“Writing a review of An Evening With The Fast Show is very much like making love to a beautiful woman... you make sure there’s enough ink in your pen, keep a note of the action, try to enjoy it, and get out when it’s over. Then try to remember what it was all about and tell everyone how it went.”

And while we’re at it, maybe throw in an appropriate catchphrase - “Brilliaaaant”, “Suit you”, “Niiiiice”, “Scorchio”, “Marvellous, wasn’t it?”, “Does my bum look big in this?”

Whatever. This week (ok, night) I have mostly been watching original cast members Charlie Higson, Paul Whitehouse (university pals and the show’s creators), Mark Williams (a Brummie local), Arabella Weir, John Thomson and Simon Day (arriving on stage in that order, if memory serves) reminisce about the smash-hit sketch show that ran for 27 episodes between 1994-1997.

The show was built around short (fast) sketches and simple catchphrases, which Higson explained could be literally anything and didn’t need to be funny, just so long as they were repeated often enough. To prove the point he created one on the spot - “the Christmas market’s a bit disappointing” - which went on to receive umpteen callbacks (as well as laughs) as the night went on.

Speaking of which, the ‘evening with’ format meant lots of (occasionally stilted) chat about how the show came about - the highlights reel of an upcoming Harry Enfield TV series shown at a press screening being the lightbulb moment - some very good impressions (Whitehouse and Thomson in their element), plenty of sketches and an almighty helping of nostalgia.

It mostly worked well, not least when lifting the lid on inspiration for characters, the contribution of other writers (including a “filthy” Bob Mortimer), how Weir battled sexism in the industry (as well as in the show’s script meetings), why Day was compelled to write a sketch mocking Jamiroquai (he hated him on Top Of The Pops), and the hilarious description of free jazz given to Thomson by a friend. Better yet we learned that the musicians namechecked by his Jazz Club presenter were all named after London tube stations.

Louis Balfour was one of many characters to appear, along with Ted and Ralph (Higson and Whitehouse recreating the duo’s first-ever sketch), the 13th Duke of Wybourne, Ron Manager, Professor Denzil Dexter, Rowley Birkin, Johnny Nice Painter (“black!”), Billy Bleach, eco-warrior Dave Angel, the ‘No Offence’ perfume seller (curiously sans South African accent), ‘Suit You’ tailors, Swiss Toni and many more.

In keeping with the original TV show some sketches and gags worked better than others, but all were rapturously received, as was the video tribute to much-missed cast member Caroline Ahearne, by a partisan audience clearly revelling in the opportunity to relive a bit of the 90s. Which was nice.

Four stars

Reviewed by Steve Adams at Symphony Hall on 13 November. An Evening With The Fast Show returns to the venue on 25 November.