Improvised Plays from Austin, Texas

Firstly, Parallelogramophonograph is a brilliant name for a group. Good.

Secondly, what a really likable bunch of performers. Excellent.

Parallelogramophonograph are doing a variety of shows at the Fringe, swapping each day. They specialise in French Farce, 1950's Screwball comedy, and - on the night we saw - Grimm Fairy Tales. For this they had a pleasantly accessible, simple format where each improviser took turns to narrate a tale in the style of the Brothers Grimm. Beginning in a shack in a wood, a family of goatherders fill their evening by telling odd tales with mysterious morals, and the other characters act out the story. It's a bit like the shortform game "typewriter" but with a back story and setting for the writers.

I found them to be immensely likable people, and when you're selling an impro show that's a pretty good start. They were technically good and had a lovely mischief to their period piece; naming a character "Burger King" for example. The show was about as utilitarian as it's title. Improvised Plays from Austin, Texas provided an improvised play, with simplicity and playfulness that I will definitely pop back and see again. Very interested to see the 1950's screwball comedy, although that might be linked to my pin-curl fetish.

★★★★

Parallelogramophongraph perform Improvised Plays from Austin, Texas at 'The Space On The Mile' (Venue 39) in Edinburgh, at 7.40pm, 5-27th August.