Crizards review: This Means War is pure fun from beginning to end
Image: Rebecca Need-Menear
If you want to have a guaranteed fun, silly, joyous time, go to see Crizards.
Double act Will Rowland and Eddy Hare, who are hoping to expand their influence as the UK’s lowest energy double act to cover all of Europe, are back after last year’s wonderful cowboy caper with a serious show about war.
This Means War is a vehicle for Eddy to tell the story of his Grandad’s time fighting in The War (don’t think about which one too much), but he hasn’t fact-checked anything “out of respect”. We follow the aptly named Private Grandad — so-called because he’s actually really young — on his journey to deliver an important code-breaking message to Major Nice Guy — because he’s not very nice — meeting a load of crazy characters along the way, all played with unbridled glee by Will.
From a small Belgian boy with an extraordinary capacity for love to Private Grandad’s old friend, he spends the whole show prancing around like a goblin, leaning into the silliest side of himself, which is perfectly balanced by Eddy’s straight-faced, unbending commitment to keeping the story on track. The only time Eddy really smiles is when they hug and that makes me feel really lovely.
Directed by Jordan Brookes, and packed with loads of songs that wouldn’t be out of place in a war movie if it weren’t for the lyrics (“I’ve got more space for bullets because I don’t have a wife”) and so many hats, and hugs, and an extraordinarily haunting prop (no spoilers but it is “god’s most beautiful child”), the show is pure fun from beginning to end.
Crizards have cornered the market in creating heart-filled comedy about friendship, and it wouldn’t work half so well if they weren’t as completely in sync with each other as they are.
You could take This Means War as a commentary on living life with purpose, being true to yourself and not letting a sense of obligation hold you back from pursuing your dreams. I prefer to just enjoy two silly guys being very, very funny in their lovely shirts.
Crizards: This Means War is at the Pleasance Dome (10Dome), at 5:50pm until August 26th. Tickets here.
“Her conversational and lively storytelling style as she tells us about her life knocks up against perceptive envelope-pushing political material. The combination of the two is potent – she holds nothing back”
“Duo Chuck’n’Jeck’s Fringe debut 123movies.com is a whirlwind of sketches tied together under the umbrella of the most nonsensical and most fun awards ceremony you’ve ever watched”
“This is the sort of show that I long for at the Fringe: something queer and weird and extravagant that has an audience hooting and hollering and going out into the night feeling like they’ve just experienced something rare.”
“An absolute hoot. Hudson characterises this fading shine of light entertainment celebrity with aplomb, his frantic desperation to cling onto relevance butting up against the temptations and modernisations of a world that he is ill-equipped to deal with. “
“The social realm is a tricky beast, filled with grey areas and traps that can catch anyone out if they are unprepared. Luckily, Paulette has devised a code of etiquette for handling every social situation you might come up against.”
“This is one of those totally unique late night Fringe shows that will see you leave wondering, did that just happen? Did I and a whole bunker of people just spank each other silly on command? The answer is yes. Willingly, in fact.”
“Character comedian Han Whyte’s drag persona welcomes us to the launch of his new book and a relaunch of his previous works now adapted to be more feminist – at least in his eyes.”
“A show that unpacks this odd existence with equal measures of absurdity and tenderness, emphatically queer, both extremely funny and bittersweet.”
“God’s Favourite is an intense and inspired hour, bound by a combination of zippy writing and a faith in the show’s journey, which the audience shares in wholeheartedly.”
“This debut clown show is more than skin deep, as Maya mines her former life as a telenovela actress to investigate the pressures of remaining youthful, hyper-feminine and emotionally palatable. “
“Sexy baby, harangued ex-wife to a deadbeat genius, male growth plot device… How far have we come really?”
“Her characters provide a showcase for her wide-ranging comedic abilities and allow plenty of space to play”
“The immediate standing ovation that met Mothman’s curtain call came as no surprise. This is the type of show you’ll leave feeling like you need to see it again.”
“She’s dynamic and natural on stage, a simultaneously high-powered and relaxed stand-up.”
Getting to see Cooking With Kathryn is the perfect example of a welcome Fringe surprise – someone new to me and the Fringe, who has created something that fully reflects its anarchic, messy spirit. An absolute riot.
Gross in some places, soft in others, raucously fun all the way through. It’s a clown show that fully celebrates the joy of playing around. At every opportunity, Su takes the wilder option and runs with it.
Like the skirt suit she’s in search of, Baby Doomer is woven from honeyed threads. She wears both wonderfully. Can you plausibly call someone one of the greats this early in their career?
Marjolein’s perspective is a gift and Lein is another hypnotic, lyrical piece of work, and as funny as ever. Even if we haven’t all watched nuns trampolining in Amsterdam, being lost is a universal feeling.
I love all of it. Ayoade Bamgboye has the freshness of a new comedian performing without rules or restrictions. You truly have no idea what she might do next, and she makes it appear like she doesn’t either. It’s thrilling.
There are few people more naturally suited to the job at hand. Molly McGuinness’s debut Slob flows out of her with seemingly effortless dexterity.
I’ve been hearing rumblings of Ayo’s talent for a while and it’s immediately obvious why, both to me and this sold out crowd. His ease on stage, his delightful, sunny disposition and winning earnestness all combine to endear you to him straight away.
I could have watched endless iterations of couples (and throuples) galavant in different costumes around the attic – I lost all sense of time and never wanted to leave.
Her debut show is ticking all my boxes. Musical theatre. Check. Anxiety. Check. Feeling so much gratitude for your lovely therapist that you want to send them a gift but don’t know if it’s appropriate (it’s probably not). Check!
Sharon’s wellness tips are much more usable e.g. drink so much water to stave off your anxiety that you nearly piss yourself, scientology, bring back fortune tellers…
Rosa is quickly covered in slime – there’s one delightful moment after it has been poured where it looks like a lovely latex beret balancing over their fringe, then oozes down and hangs in a big globule off of one eyebrow.
This debut is going to bring in a good helping of the validation he craves. Pedro’s comedy is smooth, structured and sophisticated. He was made for the West End, but only the West’s most high-brow End
His rasping baritone and sudocremmed face thrust into the front row, he demands a nervous audience member call him “Daddy”. And yet, for all his broad-shouldered, domineering monstrosity, this character is strangely likeable.
Main Character Energy is an elaborately camp and flamboyant parody of the one woman play and all its tropes, but it also serves as a genuine slate for her many talents
