It’s a brave thing for an act to introduce themselves as the “greatest improv comedy you’ll ever see in your life,” but without hesitation, Baby Wants Candy is the only improv you’ll ever need to see starting from now on.
With their crowd filled to the brim, and this being the loudest crowd I have heard so far this Fringe 2026, the group asks the audience to shout out unique titles so they can then make up a fully improvised musical on the spot. Our audience shouted ideas like “Beauty and the Priest,” “Greasy Hair,” “Broke Vikings,” but the winning title of the night was… “Bilbo Shaggins!”
It is to no wonder Baby Wants Candy has sold out the Edinburgh Fringe for eight years in a row, as they performed “the opening and closing night of Bilbo Shaggins” with wondrous improvisation skills to ensure that everyone leaves the show tired from laughter. They ran through unexpected plotlines that you wouldn’t have remembered from your last-watch of the Lord of the Rings series, like Bilbo having the “one cock ring to rule them all,” and the hidden past affair between the Eye of Sauron (who “instills a positive working environment”) and Gandalf the Grey.
While some of the cast may have been stronger singers than the others, the group’s teamwork made sure that they were all able to uplift each other in their improvisational roles. You could see the focus in each cast member’s eyes as soon as they finish their performance on stage and someone else jumps up to replace them, as they step to the side and plan what their next scene will be. Accompanied by a live musical band, the precise, quick-witted thinking by the cast makes the performance look effortless and almost seem pre-rehearsed with their harmonies blending together beautifully.
The only negative to the show, which the performers’ are not to blame, was that I wished the cast on stage could have chosen the selected title amongst those shouted out by the audience. In this night’s show specifically, it felt far too familiar to their sister-show, Shamilton!, as we follow the tale of one singular character Bilbo. There was a deja vu moment to myself watching Shamilton! last year with a musical based on Gandalf, and it was ironic to hear that my friend had watched their sister-show the previous night focussed on Bilbo too. I would have loved to see a more unique musical, akin to their previous titles like “Tinder in the Animal Kingdom” and “HotUncles.com the Musical.” I mourn the plot of what could’ve been “Beauty and the Priest,” and what songs would have come with it.
Baby Wants Candy is running until 30 August at Studio One at Assembly George Square Studios. Buy tickets here.
Image provided by Baby Wants Candy for press use.
