Original Review:

Show Rating:

In Death By Chocolate, the fabulous cheesiness of the musical form is celebrated with warmth and humour, each cast member leaping on to the stage with character in place; it’s just not always the appropriate foil for the one already there.

They are very good at it, oozing thespian wherewithal and producing impeccably constructed short pieces, generally replete with punchlines while armed only with some bizarre show titles and a robust sense of each other’s strengths. There is always a proper beginning, middle and end. The cast are clearly enjoying themselves, and it’s infectious.

Of course there is some very good material in that programme; tonight Scratch reinvent a show called The Art of Juggling Women and tackle Arthur Smith’s Public Lecture, with deflections.

Herein is all the Fringe nonsense you haven’t the strength of will to see, reproduced rather more professionally, one suspects, than the shows which supply the inspiration (not you, Arthur).

They are funny, and have an enviable team bond - these guys have been on a few paintballing weekends together I’ll warrant - and here they put them to good use. They really are a pleasure to watch. Reduced Edinburgh Impro is the Fringe distilled and bottled for your enjoyment, a one-stop shop for those short of time or patience.

Reviewed by: Chloe Smith