After a three year hiatus, Tom Skelton, Daniel Roberts, Chris Turner and Dougie Walker return to the Edinburgh Fringe with their critically-acclaimed improv show, Aaaand Now For Something Completely Improvised. It’s fair to say they haven’t lost their impressive speed, sharp wit, and charming personalities in the years away.
They haven’t lost their impressive speed, sharp wit and charming personality
We were greeted with a ‘sweetie’ before the show kicked off. After a few friendly questions to some chosen members of the crowd, we found ourselves watching Vivienne (who has a secret family of robots), in an Edinburgh clothes shop, in a show that would be called ‘Dingoboy’.
From this moment onwards, hilarity ensued.
Although they sometimes take the scenic route to their destination, meaning scenes go on too long, they always land on their feet with a well-connected plot point or zingy one-liner.
What elevates this above other improvised shows is the personality of the cast and the relationships they have with each other. They are quick-witted. There’s never a moment's silence or hesitation. And barely ten seconds go by without a laugh - from both us and them.
Their well-earned confidence bleeds into the characters. Chris Turner, for example, spouted off an exceptional knowledge of Australian wildlife, which seemed complete nonsense, yet also entirely integral to the plot.
It would be remiss not to mention their musician, Rich Baker. Though hidden in the background, his underscoring amps up the mood and comedy, and throws in the odd famous motif for good measure.
Throughout the show we wonder how they will get everything to come together in a way that doesn’t seem cheap. The highest praise I can offer is that by the time the clock hits 11:40, they have managed to create a story that is satisfying, side-splitting and complete.