Everything happens in this show. There are worms, talking fruits, singing fruits, blood, vegetables, birds, purposely unidentifiable accents, spotlights and a lot of sequins. In a show that uses puppetry, clowning, character comedy, audience interaction and some well built-in sound effects, it would be easy to get lost in the mayhem, but there’s something that keeps you anchored and a part of the fun.
The audience interactions are a treat. The performer gently forces people to be part of her show, having the first person up, even before she makes her own first appearance in the piece. We played characters, sang, helped with sound effects and lights and there’s something wonderful about feeling you’re an important part of the action. So much so that people didn’t mind giving away their jackets and mobile phones. The performer commits hard to a very high energy physical performance and we are infected by her enjoyment and sense of play.
Fruit Loop is a very silly show that has everything to be a disaster, but when the performer isn’t fazed by the most unexpected audience inputs and doesn’t, for a second, lose track of the action she created, you can’t help but feel refreshed and delighted.
Lucy Pearman offered up my most fun experience of (controlled) chaos at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe with her story of a wide-eyed little worm, searching for the meaning of life.
★★★★
Lucy Pearman: Fruit Loop is at the Monkey Barrel at 18:30 until 27th August. For tickets and more information click here!
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