| “Endless Enthusiasm, Superb Timing, a Joy to Watch” |
Locomotive for Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit |
| Pinch Punch , Gilded Balloon Patterhouse: the Other Yin , August 23, 2024 |
The description of “Locomotive for Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit” read:“All aboard this hilarious never-to-be-repeated whodunnit, where killing the cast and cracking the case is in your hands. Four characters board a train but not everyone will survive. Who’s the murderer? Only one person knows: the murderer themselves! “Pinch Punch are an improv comedy group based in London and Cardiff. This will be their debut at Cabaret (yay!) with their unique, one-of-a-kind, fully improvised whodunnit which they're taking back to Edinburgh this summer. Offies Finalist 2024!” * * * * From the Reviews Hub: “Set on a train in the 1920s where a murder is about to take place and a detective with a moustache will be on hand to solve, there’s an immediate base for the actors to build on and stereotypes for them to parody, but the destination of the train, and the back stories of its passengers are in the hands of the audience. “...The four actors that take on the roles alongside Detective Hugh Dunnit never miss a beat as they run with every suggestion that comes their way creating characters, situations and attitudes that they stick with and build on throughout embracing the ridiculousness of everything that comes their way. “...The Detective himself is superb at setting the scene, leading the audience interaction and holding the whole thing together. “...The first half of the show is all about building the story and the characters, getting the audience actively involved and leading up to the moment when the murder will occur. Motives don’t emerge until the body is discovered, largely because the cast don’t know who the victim will be until the audience decide. They also don’t know who the killer will be until the three remaining passengers get their tickets. Even then, only the killer knows for certain who the guilty party is. “The improvised scenes where the final confrontations, long buried secrets and thwarted ambitions emerge are superb to watch as the actors take on audience suggestions possibly selected on the basis of which one might be the most far-fetched and fun suggestion to play out. “Played out with endless enthusiasm, superb timing and an unrivalled understanding of what make classic comedy improv, the show is a joy to watch and one you know will be almost completely different if you come back again. * * * * From Kat Masterson: “The 1920s, trains and murder are the themes of Pinch Punch Improv’s interactive murder mystery ‘Locomotive for Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit’, which is currently playing at Gilded Balloon as part of the Edinburgh Fringe. The improvisational comedy features a cast of five, led by fictional detective Hugh Dunnit, and in the show the audience gets to decide who committed the murder. “...Attending Pinch Punch Improv’s show can be likened to being immersed in their zany, comedy world from the minute you walk into the Other Yin venue. With seating surrounding the stage, the audience is led to their seats with a crackling 1920s soundtrack playing in the background and they are welcomed in by none other than the group’s legendary detective himself. “...It was brilliant to witness the fast thinking of the performers, as they navigated the contributions and brought them into the storyline. “... The atmosphere was electric at Gilded Balloon during the show, with ‘Locomotive for Murder’ proving to be a huge crowd pleaser.” * * * * Audience reactions read: “Brilliant show - detective led the show superbly and the other four cast members were super quick with the improv. Bravo.” “So much fun - the cast were quick to think on their feet, using suggestions from the audience to create hilarious characters and storylines. Very clever and entertaining! “Absolutely fantastic show for all ages!! Very funny and so clever how the actors use all the information given from the crowd.” “Fantastic family fun with laughs a-plenty. Slick and fast-witted with audience suggestions woven in skilfully, the story moved at the right pace. Characters were established quickly with their unique quirks and dynamics that seem to naturally generate a story.” “Absolutely brilliant, so quick, exceedingly funny - a must see!” “The show’s reputation for being a must-see has made it notoriously difficult to get tickets, but if you have the chance, don’t miss it—it’s truly excellent.” * * * * Extracts with thanks and acknowledgement from source: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/locomotive-for-murder-the-improvised-whodunnit |
Reviewed by: Adam Somerset |
This review has been read 152 times |
