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Laughing Mirror returns for the third year running to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with one of their trademark romps. This time, the Department of Seasonal Mascots is threatened by government cuts. Summary
Rating
Excellent
Things are not looking up at the Department of Seasonal Mascots. Cupid (Pete Rapp), April’s Fool (Katy McEntee), Dracula (Daniel Hemsley) and all their colleagues wait as Mrs Claus (Jessica Cuthbert) hands out the annual performance reports. The feedback shows unsatisfactory results from everyone. Santa (Harrison Cole) has been drinking at work. Saint George (Ashden Woodrow) has misplaced his dragon. Whilst the Easter Bunny (Harry Benjamin) has apparently taken liberties in the production of some chocolate raisins.
To make things even worse, the government has announced new financial cuts and an inspector is on his way to visit the offices – located in a remote corner of Canary Wharf. His mission is to establish which holidays should be removed from the calendar. Concerned about losing their jobs, the mascots decide to sabotage each other’s inspection, making sure that everyone else looks more of a failure than themselves. What could possibly go wrong?
Not quite as rousing as last year’s offering, Seasoned Professionals has still reconfirmed Laughing Mirror’s farcical genius. Fine-tuned by a talented team of creatives, superb attention to detail shines through in both the writing and direction. Signature slapstick comedy and vivid characterisation are cemented by a young and very promising ensemble, with each actor in charge of multiple roles. Throughout fifty minutes of quickfire action, there’s a relentless exchange of costumes and props. Quite impressively, everyone always seem to find their place on stage and nail their cue.
The strong festive seasoning of this romp is intended to bring the family together and, fortunately, some of the naughtiest jokes seem to remain undetected by the ears of the younger ones. In a packed house, a handful of silly songs and an avalanche of puns are well received by the audience, who, unsolicited, even start clapping hands during a musical piece. Smart and timed to perfection, no opportunity for laughter ever goes to waste in such a riotous use of popular culture.
Written by: Chad Porter, Holly Richards and James Darby
Directed by: Chad Porter and Holly Richards
Produceb by: Laughing Mirror
Box Office: +44 (0)131 226 0000
Booking Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/seasoned-professionals
Booking Until: 17 August 2019
