It appears impossible me to call any Fringe show I watched the most unpredictable by far, but The Mr Thing Show reaches that unbelievable pedestal. Crass, clever, and creative to no end, it feels like they were firing at 50 jokes a minute from beginning to end.
Tom Clarkson and Owen Visser’s irreverent variety show makes its audience the protagonist as participation is mandatory in a way that feels the right amount comedically demeaning while still fostering an amazing repertoire from cast to viewer. The show never feels mean spirited with its participation because the hosts are just as belittling to themselves and by the end a harmonious chemistry is built. Even if you’re really shy about having the spotlight on you, you owe it to yourself to come along for the fun here.
The creativity in The Mr Thing Show knows no bounds and within an hour all types of jokes are included. Parody, metahumour, wordplay, slapstick, and innuendos are all part of the deal. In a lesser show this could mean a lack of focus, but here because the jokes come at light speed it means every viewer will have at least one moment where they keeled over laughing.
While there is the slimmest of narrative throughlines tying the experience together, this show never forgets to keep throwing you curveballs and so even when the show does get more streamlined it feels the same amount of chaotic as ever. The Mr Thing Show throws you in the deep end and if you can keep up with it then you will experience one of the most electric shows the Fringe has to offer. This could have went for another hour and I would’ve been glued.
The Mr Thing Show is running until 30 August at Piccolo Tent at Assembly George Square Gardens. Buy tickets here.
Image provided by Gag Reflex as press material.
