Charming, fun, and delightfully silly, Fabled: The Improvised Fantasy Adventure is a fully improvised show centred around a medieval fable that is created and prompted by the audience.
The show features a talented cast that are fantastic in bouncing off each other’s ideas and wit, and have a great synergy that is endlessly entertaining to watch. Our prompt – of the Tale of Frederick and the Lost Pigeon – was executed stunningly. Different plotlines and characters were gradually weaved in and the storyline built up with ridiculous jokes that got funnier and funnier as the show went on, eventually ending with pigeons saving the fantasy Kingdom and the King being revealed to be Frederick’s father!
The show does not take itself too seriously, with a nice balance of comedy and magic present. This created a whimsical atmosphere that fit incredibly well with the show’s fantasy theme. The underlying live mandolin playing further added to this, tastefully accompanying scenes in all the right places. Pieces ranged from joyful, jangly fantasy themes to woeful, dramatic, slow melodies, which created an authentic medieval tavern-like atmosphere that lasted throughout the play.
Moreover, the mandolin player being seated on the corner of the stage made the whole show feel as though we were looking into a framed painting or book, watching scenes from an old fable or fantasy film.
Things go wrong as well (which is to be expected due to the nature of improvisational theatre), such as the main character forgetting his name given by the audience or a try at a synchronised line failing spectacularly. However, this added to the show rather than taking away from it, making already ludicrous situations even more funny, and prompting the audience into uncontrollable, mirthful laughter.
This is a hilariously charming show, with elfin characters and an enchanting atmosphere. Scenes are kept short and sweet, and never get boring; the plot twists and turns and you never know where you’d go next! It encapsulates what Fringe should be about – gifted actors performing wonderfully fun theatre centred around wonderfully unique concepts.
Fabled: The Improvised Fantasy Adventure is running until 31 August at Lounge at Gilded Balloon Teviot. Buy tickets here.
Image provided by Gilded Balloon for press use.
