To put it simply, this show is the most confusing hour of fun, one of the strangest shows I have seen at the Fringe, and somehow that is what makes it so funny. Four performers, two men and two women, take to the stage as monks and communicate almost entirely through physical performance and what sounds like Gollum grunts. There is very little dialogue, but somehow you still understand the different personalities and problems each character is dealing with.
At the centre of the show is a bowl of water. Whenever one of the monks puts their face into it, they are transported into a completely different world or dream. These range from the ocean to a fairytale and a rave, with each section becoming increasingly bizarre. The whole thing is difficult to explain without making it sound ridiculous, but seeing it live makes much more sense.
The physical comedy is excellent, with the performers constantly finding new ways to make each other laugh and involving the audience along the way. There are also plenty of recurring jokes and ideas that return later in the show.
It is weird, unpredictable and occasionally completely unexplainable, but above all it is very, very funny.
Underground Monk Show, 22:15 at Piccolo Tent at Assembly George Square Gardens at 10:15pm from August 5-16th – 18-30th.
