★★★★★
The world isn’t in a great way right now. There’s war in Europe and we’re potentially facing another four years of Donald Trump in the White House. We all need a little joy in our lives at the moment and what better way to do that than at Showstopper! The Improvised Musical?
I’ve seen posters for Showstopper go up every August. It’s one of the Fringe’s most popular shows that keeps coming back again and again. After one night, it’s easy to see why. The show begins with co-creator Dylan Emery taking a call from a faceless benefactor looking for a new musical. And so, he turns to the audience for suggestions on a setting. Suggestions taken ranged from the Republican Party National Convention, a medieval castle with rainbow unicorns and a funeral, but the coffin is empty.
Known for our dark and dry sense of humour, the Edinburgh audience went for the funeral. The director then asked for three musicals for the musical styling to be based on including Billy Elliot, Newsies and 42nd Street, ultimately producing a musical called Dead & Gone. It would be unfair to review the plot or characterisation of an improvised musical, but it is spellbinding how the cast can completely make up a plot, characters, songs and choreography to keep an audience engaged, clapping along and laughing.
Showstopper doesn’t take itself too seriously. It pokes fun at itself. A highlight of the Dead & Gone was undoubtedly co-creator Adam Meggido and his understated comic styling. Pippa Evans’ vocal performance was also excellent. The show acknowledges the absurdity of improv which saw Meggido perform in the role of minister, funeral director, solicitor and pilot to name a few.
The Showstopper band are undoubtedly the stars of the show. They play songs with recognisable beats that the cast somehow manage to write songs complete with lyrics and a storyline to in absolutely no time at all. What’s more is that they even have choruses. The ability to deliver a full musical with a score, choreography, a plot and strong characters in such a small period of time lies with the cast and creative team behind Showstopper. It takes a lot of trust in your fellow cast members to deliver something like this and it is clear from the cast that they enjoy performing with each other.
I did find myself wishing that Emery stopped interrupting the performance either for more input from the audience or to almost give away what was about to happen. But this didn’t dent my overall enjoyment and despite the fact half of Edinburgh had been plunged into darkness as a result of the Great Power Cut of 2024, I left with a huge smile on my face and humming the final number in Dead & Gone, wishing that I could tell all of my friends to go and see it. But the wonderful thing about improv musicals is that only the people sitting in the room during that performance will have seen Dead & Gone and that feels pretty special.
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is playing at the Pleasance Grand from August 4-12, 14-25 at 5.30pm as part of Edinburgh Fringe 2024.
Words by Lauren Gilmour
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