This is the show where nothing is prepared in advance, and it could not be better. The show is in its 16th year at the Edinburgh Fringe, and the material seems to never run out of ideas. This is partly due to audience suggestions, but primarily down to the absolute talent displayed by the showstoppers in singing, dancing and improvising.
The show has the audience on the edge of its seats from the start as Dylan Emery walks out on stage to ask us all to give ideas for the show’s theme. Earthquakes are randomly settled on as our plot/theme (I preferred the White House as a theme), but the majority rules). Once that was out of the way, we carefully select our very musical’s very fitting name “5…6…7…QUAKE”, and within seconds the cast and band were full steam ahead.
The cast manage to create a whole new world where dancing in LA front of 6000 people means everything, until the earthquake…in which we see “Belinda” (played by Ali James) lose her rather bizarre bunch of dance group orphans, only to be saved by the oldest (played by Ruth Bratt) whose dream is to be an Olympic Base Jumper. This is absolute theatre.
The cast improvise their way through a challenging subject, create a gripping plot line, and somehow adapt the show perfectly to the audience’s wishes, all the while keeping it hilarious.
Unfortunately those not in the audience for 5…6…7…QUAKE will never be able to see it – as it is literally unrepeatable. Still, the endless variety is what makes this show unique as well as providing a fantastic evening of entertainment.
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, 17:20 30th Jul – 24th Aug, 17:20, Pleasance Courtyard, Until August 24
Abby Brunnen
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/showstopper-the-improvised-musical