This last year has provided no shortage of material for writing a current affairs parody musical. With this summer’s general election and the US presidential race making this an epochal year for politics, the team behind NewsRevue must have felt like children in a sweet shop as they composed the latest instalment in their 45-year record-breaking run at the Edinburgh Fringe.
As the show opens with a medley of songs parodied from the musical Wicked, such as “No One Mourns the Tories”, it becomes clear that the election was to take centre stage. The writers evidently played a clever waiting game, and it is highly impressive that in the short number of weeks since the formation of the new Labour government they were able to construct much of the show around it. Despite the unapologetic celebration of the Tories’ demise, however, no one is safe. Keir Starmer is slammed for his lukewarm promises and
inability to take a stance, and Ed Davey and Carla Denyer sing a duet about the unpopularity of their parties. It pulls no punches in its satirising of those at the wheel in the running of our country and is emblematic of the mood of a disillusioned British public who are relieved to see the Tories out yet remain sceptical about the likelihood of change.
In addition to the familiar faces from home, we get a cast of characters from the global stage, such as Vladimir Putin, Greta Thunberg and of course, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. To great amusement, Trump appeared with a bandaged ear in a nod to the assassination attempt
at a rally in Pennsylvania just a couple of weeks ago. It is absolutely hot off the press – even Joe Biden’s dropping out of the presidential race and endorsement of Kamala Harris as the democratic candidate received a mention.
Topicality is the hallmark of NewsRevue, and the 2024 edition is no exception. The writers have done a stellar job of incorporating current events into their sketches, poking fun at the latest political scandals, cultural phenomena, and social issues. From witty takes on the ongoing AI debates to lampooning high-profile politicians, the material is fresh and brutally honest. And if that’s not enough to sell it, the show concludes with a political ABBA mashup. NewsRevue is a fast-paced, laugh-packed hour that skewers the absurdities of our times with
style and wit. Whether you’re a Fringe veteran or a first-time attendee, this show offers a perfect blend of humour and critique and absolutely deserves its status as the world’s longest running comedy show.
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