Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

Dru Cripps spins good old-fashioned fun out of a humble set-up. Operating out of a shipping container on Potterrow he uses his voice and a loop machine to create improvised comedy songs – as many as he can fit into an hour – based on genre and thematic suggestions from the audience.

There’s no narrative or structure to this playfulness, just a repetition of the same trick, and to be honest it works like a charm every time.

His only preprepared material comes up top, as he programs the audience to respond with sound effects to an elaborate mime. Then, having located the three best sheep impressions in the crowd, he inserts them into the chorus of Sweet Caroline. A bit of fun! 

He teases us at that point that we’re dreading a whole hour of mime and sound effects, which is perhaps the case for some. But it’s nice to have his voice and personality in the room, as he has an easily distractable but amiable air that gently fills the container with good vibes. You can see why he would have made a good teacher, as there’s a lowkey charm and enthusiasm for his work that’s utterly winning. 

As he puts it, underselling himself: ‘I’m not a musician and barely a comedian, but I do enjoy people’s company.’

The songs too are very enjoyable, although if I had a quibble it’s that his jazz numbers, his punk songs and his balladeering all sound pretty similar, which I suppose is inevitable when all you have is your voice to make music with. Beats and parps are easily replicable – strings and keys less so. 

But they’re all bouncy and catchy and frequently lead organically to some very funny moments, like a request for a country tune about American grocery chain Trader Joe’s, which leads to a song about a mass murder in M&S Food, and two old men having a shootout on stage.

If you’re at the Fringe and fancy a break from themes and trauma, and just want to have a blast for an hour that goes by too quickly, Cripps has got you covered.

Review date: 12 Aug 2025
Reviewed by: Tim Harding
Reviewed at: Hoots @ Potterow