The Pleasance Grand was heaving with people on my trip to see Showstopper! The Improvised Musical. Now in it’s 10th year, the Olivier award winning troupe have made a name for themselves as a must see during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The premise is similar to that of other improvised shows, the audience decides the fate of the musical that will be performed that night. Luckily, that means no spoilers, as the show I saw is unlikely to ever happen again.
Set in an Ancient Greek gladiator arena, “Glad” the musical, followed the story of two best friends trying to impress the stuttering, Emperor Caesar. The opening number, “We do it all for Caesar”, made you realise just why the Showstopper team have such packed out audiences – they’re incredible. Our 60 minute musical took inspiration from the music of (thank you audience suggestions), Fame, any Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Little Shop of Horrors, Dear Evan Hanson and Pirates of Penzance.
You cannot help but be in awe of this troupe. The band were sublime, never putting a foot wrong. I had to keep reminding myself that this was improvised as each performance by the cast was better than some shows that have rehearsed for months. The vocals were on another level, and the songs were so ridiculously catchy, I’ve been humming them non- stop. Whilst I wish that everyone could see “Glad” the musical, I have no doubt that every show is just as brilliant. Showstoppers! The Improvised Musical will remain a must see at the Fringe for years to come.
Review by Georgia Rix
Rating: ★★★★★
