Produced by Baby Wants Candy

Review by Annie Aslett

Assembly George Square Studios

Though improv shows, by their nature, bear repeat viewings, it is not every improv troupe that would merit a rewatch. Shamilton! The Improvised Hip-Hop Musical from improv group Baby Wants Candy sits firmly in the if-I-was-rich-I’d-see-this-every-night camp. On stage tonight are R.J. Williams, Anna Borthwick, Chris Grace, Allen Lucas, Lily Ludwig and Derek Demko, accompanied by the ‘Shamiltones‘: Adrien Pellerin on keys and Kenny (the Cher of the group) on drums. The show is never the same twice; here’s a glimpse into tonight’s show for a flavour of what to expect (then get your ticket and get there early; the show is always packed). 

Every night, the Shamilton! crew create a Hamilton-style biographical musical about a famous figure suggested by the audience. Tonight’s inspiration: Mr Bean. Tricky for a few reasons. Namely, Bean’s penchant for silence and the fact that this American cast seem to only have the vaguest idea of who Mr Bean is. Williams, as resident master of ceremonies, asks the audience for more information. At one point, Grace asks, “What does Mr Bean say about your country?”. “We’re weird!”, comes the reply. Things don’t get much better from there. Armed with the key facts (he’s friendless, has a teddy bear, and Rowan Atkinson once stole James Acaster’s girlfriend), our brave cast dive into Bean: An English Musical. 

Williams, casting himself as Bean, could have sat back for an easy show; the option for him to say nothing and have a night off is right there. However, after some internal struggle, he declares, “I am going to talk“. And thank heavens he does. Williams is a confident and vital member of this team, both creating and running with some hilariously unhinged ideas. Williams leads the cast in ‘English’ accents, which goes down a storm with the Scottish audience – though Ludwig’s rhyme of ‘Edinburgh’ with ‘go’ won’t have won her many fans. Luckily for Ludwig she brings a heady mix of sharp wit and silliness that makes the audience listen up whenever she adds anything (even if, playing Bean’s Mini Cooper, this is often just a well-timed honk).

Allen Lucas may feature slightly less than other players but he gets the biggest laugh of the night with his first line, fake cigarette in hand: “You think a teddy bear is ever gonna make it in this town.” An introspective, intelligent improv comic, Lucas’ style is less scatter gun, more precisely aimed wit. Derek Demko is always a joy to watch. Tonight, he plays the kidnapped child from Mr Bean’s Holiday. He’s clearly having so much fun, bringing infectious energy along with his spot-on ideas and side-splitting delivery. 

Chris Grace is a busy man this Fringe, performing in two other shows alongside his Baby Wants Candy duties. Grace, as well as seeming to have a slightly deeper knowledge of British comedy than the others, is the maverick of this group, introducing new characters, ideas and scenes that push himself and his cast mates. His send-up of Hamilton’s Your Obedient Servant as B. Adder gets huge laughs and gets his co-stars thinking. 

Most of the joy of musical improv is in watching the actors squirm as they wrestle to get in a successful joke or rhyme against the clock. The cast of Shamilton! have a higher success rate than most, and none work better under pressure than Anna Borthwick, playing Bean’s friend-turned-nemesis, James Acaster. Forged in fire, Borthwick deals with any curveballs sent her way with hysterical aplomb. The biggest betrayal of the night comes when pianist Pellerin forces Borthwick into a rendition of The Room Where It Happens. Pellerin listens intently on the sidelines all night for narrative threads that deserve to become musical numbers. Though the lyrics of the first 16 bars are mostly four-letter words, Borthwick comes up with some absolute gems. On the Shamiltones, if you can tear your eyes away from the cast for a second, it is fascinating to watch the pair adapt to each other and the performers in an impressive display of musical mental gymnastics. 

Though the show will change every day, you can guarantee that this cast will bring the same energy time after time. Come armed with an interesting character (you decide how easy or hard you want to make the cast’s job) and sit back for one of the most entertaining evenings at the Fringe. 

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