Get to Doubletree by Hilton early for a drink at the bar and to soak up the atmosphere before riding the elevator up to level 1 and being shown to a private room by a French waiter. It’s a French restaurant of sorts – Rue de Toilette in West Heidelberg.

A tall stetson wearing dude wearing black walks in carrying a briefcase and is shown to a booth with plush red velvet seats. Clint (Lachie Gough) is an oil man, or so he says.

Before long all hell breaks loose in this Fawlty Towers meets Lano and Woodley kill or be killed comedy sketch by Alex Donnelly and Lachie Gough who riff off each other and the audience to deliver a laugh out loud high energy comedy show.

Donnelly as Marcel is a conscientious, chaotic and clumsily murderous French waiter. During a gun slinging stand-off the two discover they work for the same agency and have been sent to assassinate each other.

What to do when you’re a ruthless killer with hurt feelings – carry out orders or buck the system?

The John Wilkes Booth is packed full of word play, physical comedy, improvisation and a very clever twist at the end. It is clear that Gough and Donnelly enjoy working together and it brings a natural fluidity to their performance. A polished show of slapstick comedy that will have you guffawing in your seat.

The John Wilkes Booth is showing at Doubletree by Hilton in Flinders Street just across from Flinders Streeet Station until 21st April. Tickets can be purchases from Melbourne International Comedy Festival.