Crybabies: The Scaring ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jon Brittain's direction is masterful. Everything makes sense in the most wonderfully crazy way possible. An incredibly strong sense of control runs beneath all the chaos, with every reveal, transition, and comic beat feeling carefully considered. It knows exactly what kind of show it wants to be and commits fully.

Cecilia Carey's set and costume design is simply stunning. This does not look like a typical Fringe set. Not even remotely. We are presented with large-scale scenic pieces that create a genuinely atmospheric hotel environment, with draped, weathered textures and beautifully constructed furniture and objects helping to build the world.

The illusions by John Bulleid are also on another level. There are quite a few throughout the production, and they are used to spectacular effect. These are not little "oh, that's clever" tricks that you notice and immediately move on from. There are moments where you genuinely find yourself wondering how they have just done that. It is West End standard illusion work in a Fringe comedy show, which is frankly a little ridiculous in the best possible way.

The lighting design by Bethany Gupwell is phenomenal. It has so much personality and contributes enormously to the creepy atmosphere. The production understands that horror does not always need to be pitch black and frightening. Sometimes a beautifully constructed lighting state can be much more unsettling, and the lighting repeatedly finds those moments.

Ed Lewis's sound design is similarly excellent. There is a lovely mixture of atmospheric sound, comedy and slightly more unsettling moments, and it is all balanced beautifully. It creates the sense that something is constantly lurking around the corner without becoming so loud or obvious that it tells you exactly what you are supposed to feel.

Nina Dunn's video design is another wonderful addition. The projections add considerably to the production without ever feeling like a screen has been thrown in simply because modern theatre apparently requires one. They genuinely contribute to the plot and atmosphere, adding another layer to this increasingly ridiculous haunted world.

The book by Michael Clarke, James Gault and Ed Jones is so funny and incredibly witty. The wordplay alone deserves a round of applause. There are puns, ridiculous turns of phrase and jokes that keep arriving with such consistency that you barely have time to recover before the next one lands. And crucially, the comedy is built into the storytelling. This isn't a collection of sketches desperately trying to find a reason to exist next to one another. A proper narrative runs through the madness, allowing the jokes, characters, and increasingly preposterous situations to build on one another.

The performances by Michael Clarke, James Gault and Ed Jones are phenomenal. The speed at which some of these performers move is genuinely incredible. There are moments when I have absolutely no idea how they keep up with the pacing, let alone deliver the comedy at the same time.

The connection among the three is also fantastic. They know exactly how to play off one another, and even the smallest reaction can become a joke. There is a real sense that they are completely in sync, which makes the increasingly elaborate theatrical machinery around them feel effortless.

Overall, Crybabies: The Scaring is quite simply enormous fun. It is funny, spooky, beautifully designed and technically extraordinary. The writing is packed with brilliant wordplay, the performances are outrageously committed, and the production values are frankly bonkers for a Fringe show.

Crybabies: The Scaring is playing at Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance Two, at 8:00 pm, from 5 to 30 August, excluding 15 and 18 August. The show runs for 60 minutes. Ready to get scared? Or at least scream with laughter? Book your tickets via: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/crybabies-scaring