Edinburgh Fringe Review – Spy Movie: The Play

Spy Movie: The Play is a deliriously fun experience that’ll have you rolling around in fits of laughter, says Phoebe Bakker, reviewing at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024. 

Edinburgh Fringe Review – Spy Movie: The Play

The premise is simple. Agent Blonde has 24 hours to save the world from evil – the makings of any good spy movie, except for one thing: unforeseen budget cuts reduce an undoubtedly epic movie into a one night only performance. And the cast have got to get creative to get this show on its feet. If you loved The Play That Goes Wrong or were a fan of The 39 Steps you will definitely be in for a treat with this genre-parody.

Spy Movie opens in chaos allowing no time for the audience to settle. We’re immediately told that the movie we were all expecting has gone, and in its place shall be a play of the movie. Cut to the leading actor, Jane Blonde, announcing she will not dye her hair or wear the wig, and so it begins. Jane Blonde embarks thusly on her mission to find writer Ian Flemish and prevent the evil organisation EVIW (Every Villain In the World) from stealing his manuscript.

Make no mistake: this is a full-blown slapstick comedy. The audience is whisked into a world of endless play as actors swap roles, props and accents at hyper speed to match the beat of every laugh. It’s super apparent that a lot of work has gone on in the rehearsal process to construct, trial and test each and every gag. And it’s funny. Though at points I almost wish we were given the opportunity to sit in them and indulge a touch longer. As much as the comedy comes from the fast paced nature of the show, there are definitely times that a gag flies past you. This said, the pace is a boon at points, too. Sometimes things actually go wrong, too – for example, a drooping moustache that couldn’t seem to stay on – and a tiny bit too much focus is spent on fixing the mistake as opposed to playing the circumstances off. This feels like a missed opportunity to connect and play with the audience. Regardless, it’s hard to dwell on moments of error as within another second, the next joke comes catapulting in. 

The staging of the piece is strikingly effective, littered with props and gags and cardboard signs denoting time and place, it never feels like too much. More really is more. Two velvet red curtains frame the space and hide all the actors’ secrets (and act as a revolving door for characters to pop out from). This paired with the music we would all expect from a spy movie really elevates the show to the next level and ironically at no point does it feel cheap and misplaced.

In a sea of tense, dramatic fringe shows, Spy Movie is a refreshing palate cleanser. One that promises to drag laughter from you, with fervour. While there was maybe a need for a bit of sharpening up round the edges, you are absolutely in for a treat.

You can buy tickets for Spy Movie: The Play until August 26th at the Pleasance Courtyard Beneath.