Picture: Damian Robertson
RuneSical continues at the Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose, Edinburgh until 28 (not 18) August 2022.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
This is an absolute hoot! Well-paced, genuinely laugh out loud funny, this original show could easily become a summer panto or a feature at music festivals with its neat, episodic structure.
Loosely based on a computer game, RuneScape, we follow the quest of Lance_54 (Tonny Shim) in the surreal world where he faces many choices (choices, choices, choices…!) The lightest of touches are brought to bear in encouraging members of the audience to take part in the quest. Shim is the epitome of the wide-eyed innocent hero, grateful for help and the support from TJ Douglas-Welsh as the go-between, Odin.
The score is a delightful mish-mash of styles, clearly taking inspiration from some of the most successful musical theatre composers around. This somehow increases the charm and wit of the show and is a bit of a game in itself – trying to hear where the music has drawn influence.
There is, of course, a damsel in the plot. “Pearl2008” (Jenna Sian O’Hara) is no shrinking violet and drives the story, such as it is, forward with great rapport and sense of mischief. With secret handshakes and wise choices (choices, choices, choices!) Lance_54 faces challenge after challenge as he longs to come face to face with a dragon. Of course…
The singing voices are generally very good, but perhaps the sound levels could benefit from a bit of attention so that the keyboard and percussion do not swamp the vocalists. A little tightening up of the articulation will work wonders for this charming cast.
Sam Cochrane and Alex Prescot (writers and direction) should feel rightly proud of their work here – it’s a delicate balance to strike with the audience in this interactive comedy adventure and they have to be congratulated in finding just the right tone.
Well done, Gigglemug – best offering you’ve presented to the Fringe so far.
Fiona Orr
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