Written and created by Joe Richter, Brian Rosenthal and Corey Lubowich
Directed by Corey Lubowich
Music by Nick Gage
Review by Annie Aslett
Assembly George Square Studios – Studio Two: Tickets
What if Scooby Doo got kind of dark and real for a second? Asked and answered by the Solve It Squad, a comedic play from viral sensations, the TinCanBros.
Introduced via their very own toe-tapping theme tune penned by Nick Gage, we first meet the gang as a kid detective supergroup, buoyant with the unshakeable confidence of youth as they bag criminal after criminal. Lauren Lopez is Esther, the jinking brains of the operation. Self-appointed leader and resident himbo is Gabe Greenspan’s Keith, obsessed with Gwen, the unabashedly self-absorbed popular girl played by Ashley Clements. Rounding out the squad is Joey Richter, playing man and beast as Scraggs and best friend Cluebert, the wise-cracking dog. Playing every unmasked monster, side character, and bit-part is Brian Rosenthal in an impressive feat of stamina and memory (think Andrew Scott in his one-man Uncle Vanya, with more wigs). An ambiguous, spoiler-free ‘tragedy’ befalls the group, tearing the pre-teens apart. We meet them again as tortured adults, battling addiction, PTSD and the realities of life post-child stardom.
Written by the Tin Can Bros (comprising Richter, Rosenthal and director Corey Lubowich), the group have not given themselves an easy job; the fast-paced script, packed with jokes and Scooby DooEaster eggs, might trip a less-experienced cast. As it stands, this is the original cast of the production, first shown in 2017, who have fallen seamlessly back in step with each other, delivering the script to its fullest potential – the riotous laughter throughout the hour-long runtime testament to their note-perfect execution.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better group of character actors anywhere this Fringe season; each performer lives and breathes their role, further elevating the script with their comedic choices. Greenspan is the master of this; Keith steals every scene with his charming, bumbling jock persona, reminiscent of Ryan Gosling’s recent turn in the Barbie movie (I’m Just Keith, anyone?). Clements is a triumph as Gwen, whose treatment of Keith is cruel yet hilarious, softened by Clements’ spot-on delivery. Lopez is the master of deadpan humour as Esther, medicating to give herself a break from her fierce Sherlockian intellect. She gets some of the show’s biggest laughs – and cheers, after a particularly complex Velma-esque monologue. Richter’s Scraggs is the emotional heart of the show, fizzing with energy and dealing belly laughs and gut punches of emotion in equal measure. In a class of his own is Rosenthal, scurrying on and off stage in various disguises, donning persona after persona in a whirlwind of utter hilarity. You’ll come away with a favourite (shoutout to Cole), but the running theme is Rosenthal’s unwavering commitment and vivacity in each part.
Not to be missed for comedy fans, the Solve It Squad plays at Assembly Studio 2 until the 25th of August. Catch the TinCanBros’ next UK-based venture on 3rd September as they bring their hit musical Spies Are Forever to the West End’s Gillian Lynne Theatre.
Review by Annie Aslett (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Annie is a not-so-recent graduate of the University of Edinburgh with a degree in French and Spanish, along with a Masters in Translation from the University of Glasgow. A Spanish teacher for three years, she decided to leave the classroom behind to pursue personal goals and has since been regularly reviewing for Corr Blimey’s Glaswegian wing. Annie is a life-long lover of musical theatre, whose childhood performances included a rousing production of Snow White in The Hall and a heartfelt rendition of Go, Go, Go Joseph in The Living Room.
