Presented by Evolution Productions and Jo Parsons

Review by Hunter King

Palais du Variété at Assembly George Square Gardens

Singing seamen have made their way into the Palais du Variété. In Shantify a group of mariners gather together to turn the hits of musical theatre and other top radio songs into sea shanties. There is a basic throughline plot of three of the mariners being brothers who each have different aspirations, and their quests to change their lives.

Shantify has gotten major attention, pulling crowds from social media as well as through stereotypical Fringe marketing. Unfortunately, the show feels a bit misadvertised as the covers that are done feel more in place for an acapella competition than a sea shanty. It is clear throughout the performance that this has been well rehearsed, and that the music is the focus, as the acting often feels like something that came right out of a theme park performance. The lines are spoken in unnatural showman-like voices and feel like they are only there to set up puns for the next song on their playlist. 

The concept of shantifying well known music is a really interesting idea, and when it works, like in their cover of “I Believe in a Thing Called Love,”  it really works and becomes something cool, but other songs don’t have the shantiness to them, and most songs felt like they were chosen only because the audience would expect them (looking at you “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”), and not because they would make good shanties. 

One of the shining moments of the show was the inclusion of a narrative between the three brothers, which felt for a moment that it gave the show some depth. The narrative, however, was abandoned almost immediately for more gimmicky songs, including a mashup of the songs from SIX. Riding the coattails of SIX is a trend that is especially getting old at the Fringe. In this way it seems that the only reason that the performers are fishermen, is because they’re baiting the audience with stereotypical and overused songs.

Overall, if you’re looking for a good time with some fun male singers doing covers of music, this show may be for you, but admittedly Shantify feels more like a niche performing group that would appear in an episode of Glee than an innovative group.

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