Now in its third decade, Not The Um Um Show is better than ever as packed audiences at the Spanish Point Boat club will agree.

I was lucky enough to catch the sold-out show on Thursday and although the opening section of the event was fairly muted, I ended up laughing long and loud through the second set.

All the traditional elements are there: sketches so topical they sometimes had to be explained to less enlightened audience members, Chris Broadhurst's satirical songs and Bruce Barritt's St. David's Island Radio Mohawk skit.

But the material seemed stronger than when I saw them two years ago.

The opening sketch featured some Hamilton beggars comparing notes and discussing whether they should hold a flag day.

The choice of targets for the Um Um satire certainly encompasses the full spectrum of Bermudian life but for some reason Alan Dunch and Transport Minister Ewart Brown got more stick than most, the latter memorably in a song skit with the words changed to "it's my party and I'll lie if I want to" during the Radio Mohawk section which also featured an excellent acappella song about "the Premier with the imperial style".

The audience seemed to enjoy the Mohawk section, singing along with the radio jingle and the St. David's island character got one of the biggest laughs of the night after turning the tables on audience members from wealthier parts of the Island who had been laid low by hurricane Fabian.

He asked: "I got power, I got an airport, I got a supermarket, what you got?"

A sketch about a greedy realtor trying to flog a rabbit hutch condo was sharply written while a song about the Bermudian habit of camping with all mod cons on tap sung to the Beach Boy's tune of 'Surf City, USA' drew roars of laughter.

Put simply, the five performers have their fingers on the pulse of Bermuda and the comic talent to make it all seem very funny. Other targets included BTC, Proactive and the Government's claim to have turned tourism around - by 360 degrees according to the Um Um boys.

But my favourite sketch had to have been the five performers chatting about Bermudian road manners which of course again featured more than a passing reference to Dr. Brown.

Such a show needed a big finish and the audience were not disappointed with 'Election 2003 - the Musical', which featured Beatles favourites given new lyrics with a topical twist.

Thus 'Eight Days a Week' became 'Eight Votes a Seat'. All in all it was a great night out which makes it all the more a shame that the team are doing so few shows.

If they relent and add a few more shows than make sure to grab a ticket. But Dr. Brown and Alan Dunch might want to give it a miss.