CSI: CRIME SCENE IMPROVISATION - REVIEW

I love a bit of improv, it’s the epitome of the Fringe and the beauty of it is.. it’s different every time!

As you enter the space a whiteboard instructs the audience to begin thinking of a victim’s name, job, and unusual weapon. The audience decided on Porkie Ferdinand III, an avalanche engineer who was murdered with dental floss. One member of the cast guides the show by playing the detective, with the other four cast members playing our suspects. The audience was donned ‘Detective Clive’ and tasked with solving the mystery.

The cast is excellent, they are all in sync with each other and finish each other ideas instantaneously, working in harmony throughout. James Cann’s deadpan expressions elevated the humour of the show, and Nicola Lucey was a ball of energy with lots of great ideas and always has a funny response.

At times the pacing could have been improved, we spent rather a long time on certain ideas and scenes and I feel the detective could have guided this better to ensure a snappier show. Multiple scenes are improvised for us, displaying our suspects, and allowing us to become familiar with them. There is then a Q&A in which audience members can ask the suspects questions.

The ending felt slightly underwhelming for me, having the crowd just cheer to decide who the murderer is feels like a bit of a cop-out. I’ve watched improv like this before where a murderer is decided upon by envelopes handed to each cast member, one of which says murderer; which means we have to guess and try to work it out, rather than just choosing someone at the end.

CSI is completely random, and a fun way to spend an hour. I feel the formula could use some work, and I expected more hilarity than was provided – but the true brilliance of improv is that you’ll never get this exact show again, so who knows what it’ll be like when you go along!

Find all our Ed Fringe 2023 content here!

Click here to find tickets and info for all Edinburgh Show!

{🎟 AD: PR Invite – Tickets gifted in exchange for an honest review}

SONG OF SONGS – REVIEW – PARK THEATRE
by Mailí Ní Ghormáin
The Biblical book Song of Songs stands out; unashamedly erotic, for women as well as men, it has long been a subject of controversy, and it is this book that writer, director and lead performer Ofra Daniel takes as the subject of her musical. First performed in Daniel’s home of San Francisco in 2017, this run at the Park Theatre marks the musical’s first visit to London. It is difficult not to be thrilled by the world presented in A Song of Songs. The soundscape is one of klezmer music and infectious rhythms, composed by Daniel and Lior Ben-Hur with collaborators Ali Paris … More SONG OF SONGS – REVIEW – PARK THEATRE
SLEUTH – REVIEW – RICHMOND THEATRE
by Mailí Ní Ghormáin
Who’s afraid of Stephen Sondheim? I certainly would have been, having seen this show. Playwright Anthony Shaffer’s original title, an homage to the Broadway composer and puzzle obsessive, was changed to Sleuth before the play’s 1970 premiere, whereupon it won the Tony for best play, and has since been adapted for screen by both Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Harold Pinter. It is certainly an auspicious beginning, and it is a delight to see that fifty years on, this clever play can still stay a step ahead of its audience. The play opens with Andrew (Todd Boyce), a writer of detective fiction, delivering … More SLEUTH – REVIEW – RICHMOND THEATRE
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE
by Anne Reimers
Jesus Christ Superstar reimagines the biblical story of Jesus’ last days through a contemporary lens, portraying him as a rockstar figure navigating betrayal, redemption, and finally crucifixion. At the New Wimbledon Theatre, this iconic musical comes to life with electrifying energy and innovative staging. Fans of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the dynamic duo of England’s musical theatre scene, will recognise the typical elements of their work; and they are as electrifying as ever. The rock score is performed by a mainly hidden live band, filling the theatre with a pulsating sound. The observant audience member can spot the guitar … More JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE
SPIRITED AWAY – REVIEW – LONDON COLISEUM
by Amy Rye
Spirited Away premiered in Tokyo in February 2022 and is now having its European premiere at the London Coliseum. Hitting theatreland following the success of the RSC’s adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro, which is transferring to the West End next year. Based on the 2001 anime film, Spirited Away centres around Chihiro a young girl, who inadvertently winds up in a world ruled by witches and spirits – with her parents turned into pigs. What follows is her quest to save her parents and return to the real world. The highlight of this production is the creative elements; the set, designed by Jon Bausor is vast, imaginative, and transportive, bringing … More SPIRITED AWAY – REVIEW – LONDON COLISEUM
THE ACCOUNTANTS – REVIEW – AVIVA STUDIOS
by Jennifer Roberts
The Accountants is a multimedia stage spectacle, melding dance and modern communication. It premieres at Aviva Studios and is the UK debut performance for the Terrence Lewis Contemporary Dance Company and Xiexin Dance Theatre. Liam (Josh Hart) is trying to find himself while travelling Asia, keeping in contact with his favourite ‘auntie’ Kash (Shobna Gulati). Using Kash’s wisdom to guide him around India and China, Liam tries to understand his own identity as an Asian person while watching the accountants in his head dance. After I picked my ticket up from the box office, I was collared by a (very … More THE ACCOUNTANTS – REVIEW – AVIVA STUDIOS