Jasper Cresdee-Hyde
The Bristol Revunions are back for the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Roadtrip!, a sketch comedy show about a group of country musicians who regale themselves with tales as they journey on a tandem bike to the dark and dismal north, such as the story of how In the Night Garden‘s Iggle Piggle and Makka Pakka are really bloodthirsty murderers, or how trans-dimensional pixie John Bercow comes to teach children about the power of love and of respecting legislative procedures.
It’s delightfully absurd, made all the better by the strong and electric chemistry of the cast involved. The performers clearly excel at character comedy, each jumping in and out of varying accents and physicalities to great effect. This is the inarguable highlight of the show, smoothing over some cracks in the sketches themselves. The reoccurring sketches don’t land as well as they should, and a couple of the shorter skits could very much do with either being longer or refocused slightly.
As stated, however, the strength of the performances is enough to carry Roadtrip!, as is the storyline of the travelling musicians. It’s delightfully weird and wacky, and when the jokes land they really do land. It’s big fun and an absolute bargain for the Free Fringe. If you’re a fan of silly voices and even sillier characters, then Roadtrip! may be for you.
You can go on your own Roadtrip! at Just the Tonic at the Grassmarket Centre, 22:00, until August 25th.
Jake Mace
