COVERING THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL SINCE 1996
Massive Dad 2.0 – Step Up 2 Massive Dad (The Pleasance)

The Dads are back. Utilising projection, storyboards, voiceovers and a couple of coat hangers, sketch trio Massive Dad have created a show that hits some amazing high notes, even if it doesn’t quite manage it consistently. While the laughs are plentiful, and the performances sublime, the writing feels slightly unpolished. A few jokes don’t land, with some sketches ending anticlimactically while others outstay their welcome – most notably a cop show read-through and a Scandinavian folk band. That said, when Massive Dad are good, they’re really good. The final sketch, a parody of shows that use folksy puppetry and faux-poetry to explore Serious Topical Issues, is witheringly accurate, providing a storming end to a slightly uneven hour.
Pleasance Dome, until 31 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Jon Stapley]
