Last year, I ended my five-star review of
This show is already maturing like a fine wine – or should that be a bottle of WKD Blue?
It can be difficult to review a successful show in its sophomore year at Fringe. Often, they simply bring back the hits and, although it’s still great, it feels less original, less groundbreaking. The return of Sophie’s Surprise 29th is, if anything, better than last year. The show feels slicker, yet more chaotic. The hits are there – we are stunned by Cornelius Atkinson’s display of strength on straps, Katharine Arnold’s character comedy as the quintessential 80’s rom-com “ugly girl” and her stunning aerial routines on rope and hoop, Sam Goodburn’s unique unicycle act and biscuit juggling, and the phenomenal roller-skating routine from Nathan Redwood Price and Isis Clegg-Vinell. But there’s some new stuff in there to keep it fresh. We get what feels like a lot more audience interaction this time - as well as ‘Sophie’ – plucked from the front row to be the unsuspecting star of the show - and a fantastic moment is Josie Jone’s hair-hanging whilst clambering on a bemused but enthusiastic audience member. There’s also an amusing update to Price’s class stereotypes speech that reflects our new, hopefully more liberal political situation in the UK.
The Fringe is full of slick circus shows displaying superhuman skills and performers at the extreme of human endurance. This show has all that, yet it’s performed with such a self-aware and confident comedy slant that it almost seems even more amazing when these talented character actors display their circus skills. Sophie may not be aging, but this show is already maturing like a fine wine – or should that be a bottle of WKD Blue?
