Who better to review kids shows than a kid?
Deadline at the Fringe’s youngest reviewer, 6-year-old Gus, is out with his Dad Paul (42) to give their say on this years Edinburgh Festival Fringe acts.
“Star Rating = one hundred, five thousand, ten million and eighty nine” – Gus (6) or “[star rating= 5/5] if that’s easier for posters” – Paul (42).
If you know a kid that laughs at bums, farts, bogeys or anything disgusting this show is as close to perfect for them as you’ll find.
If the misuse of LOL gets your back up then rest assured it’s absolutely appropriate here – the kids LOLed, the parents LOLed and I think if the theatre had had a little more space between seats there’d have been blanket ROFLing.
When Ritch attempts to launch an educational show mining the depths of a chunky, copy of the dictionary, Matt thankfully redirects him to the joy of made up words.
Not every experience has been named yet, he points out, winning Ritch over before the guys set out on a journey to explore, name and claim some new language.
It would be inappropriate to share examples (go find out for yourself!), but I doubt it’ll be long before we see some of Matt and Ritch’s creations appear in the Oxford English Dictionary.
A small stage provides an expansive Listies universe as costumes and scenery change before our eyes.
This is low-fi, high-production value theatre on a pocket money, pound store budget.
About a quarter of way into the show Gus leaned over to me with a wide grin and shout whispers “THIS IS GETTING A 10 MILLION STAR RATING” – and that was before the toilet paper canon came out.
The show makes a bold promise to answer life’s unimportant questions and hilariously delivers not least in demonstrating the benefits of a toilet paper canon.
Matt and Ritch never come across as hammy or slapstick despite the large performances that children love and I think that’s in large part down to the obvious enjoyment that the guys get from sharing their humour and interacting with the audience.
The audience members join in by contributing jokes, becoming part of the set and even puppeteering en masse, leaving the theatre with a sense of accomplishment, improved vocabulary and aching laughter muscles.
It’s easy to believe these guys would be doing this if no one watched but absolutely every kid at the Fringe should.
Get in early for seats at the front if you like silly string, seagull poo, bubbles or Carrs water biscuits. Matt’s happy to share.
That said even hiding at the back won’t guarantee that you don’t become part of the show.
“They make a gun that shoots toilet paper SO FAR! Grannies would probably laugh their heads off and kids will laugh so much their heads will actually blow up” – Gus Lambie (aged 6)
