Review: Slӓpstick: Schërzo

Hands down, this is the best clog dancing, yodelling, puppetry, ventriloquism, jazz and classical music mash-up that you will see on this year’s Fringe. Whether or not this Dutch company’s blend of madcap, slapstick energy and musical flair grates on your nerves or tickles your funny bone depends on your tolerance for smacked bottom gags and rubber-faced lols.

It’s clear they have live musical talent in spades; five musicians slide effortlessly between banjo, double bass, classical guitar, melodica, mandolin, sax and alpine horn as they act out barbershop quartet skits, gentle lullabies or an accelerated name that tune session (21 in under a minute). 

While a clumsy dancing swan routine falls flat, a tightly choreographed percussive burst using only synchronised plastic coffee cups soars and there are charming appearances from Nipper, the HMV mascot dog and a tiny musical egg. The hour is full of familiar melodies (can can music, ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ and ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ all feature alongside Rick Astley and Nat King Cole hits) and much of it is in the international language of slapstick, which will work for non English speakers. Eccentric and energetic European clowning for those with a nerdy love of classical music.