Fly You Fools

If you have ever watched The Lord of the Rings and thought, “This is all very epic, but what if it was considerably sillier?”, then Fly You Fools may be the answer to your very specific theatrical prayers. A fast, chaotic and gloriously playful take on Tolkien's world, this is a production that understands exactly what it wants to be and, importantly, doesn't take itself remotely seriously.

The direction by Kristin Mccarthy Parker is good, clear and wonderfully confident. It knows exactly what it wants to achieve and gets there without unnecessary fuss. The pacing is particularly strong, allowing the comedy to move at a terrific speed without ever feeling completely out of control. There is a real sense that the whole company understands the rhythm of the piece, which is essential when you are firing jokes at the audience at this rate.

The movement is absolutely hilarious. Not every physical comedy sequence lands, but more often than not it hits the mark spectacularly. There is a real willingness to embrace the ridiculousness of the material, and the performers commit to every movement with such confidence that even the slightly sillier moments become entertaining. It is physical theatre with its tongue very firmly in its cheek.

The set design is wonderfully simple. A green textured sheet provides the backdrop, but it also becomes a surprisingly effective tool for some clever shadow puppetry. These moments are used to genuinely hilarious effect, proving once again that you don't need a giant fantasy landscape to create Middle-earth. Sometimes all you need is a sheet and a very questionable imagination.

The lighting by James Appleby is particularly impressive. It constantly shifts between different states, but never feels as though it is changing simply for the sake of changing. Each look is vibrant and visually appealing, helping to maintain the show's energetic atmosphere. Interestingly, my favourite moments were actually the more stripped-back cues, where the lighting allowed the action and performers to take centre stage. It demonstrates a lovely understanding of when to go big and when to let things breathe.

The sound design is excellent. Much of the soundscape is created live by one performer (Kelly Robinson) producing the various noises and sound effects throughout the show, and the level of skill involved is seriously impressive. Every sound is timed beautifully and balanced wonderfully with the rest of the production. It becomes part of the comedy rather than simply sitting underneath it. I also have to mention the pre-show playlist, which immediately put me in the mood for what was about to come. A good pre-show playlist can tell you a lot about a production, and this one certainly knew the assignment.

The book is where Fly You Fools really takes flight. It is unbelievably funny. Even if you know absolutely nothing about The Lord of the Rings, there is enough comedy here to keep you laughing. But if you are the sort of person who can identify every member of the Fellowship and probably has strong opinions about the extended editions, there are plenty of jokes tucked away specifically for you. The pace is relentless. This really is a joke a minute, with one gag seemingly arriving before you have finished laughing at the previous one. Thankfully, the writing never feels like it is desperately trying to prove how funny it is. The production understands the ridiculousness of its premise and runs with it.

Most importantly, it doesn't take itself seriously. There is a real joy in watching a company completely embrace the silliness of the world they have created. It feels affectionate towards its source material rather than simply mocking it, which makes the parody all the more enjoyable.

Fly You Fools is a wonderfully silly, fast-paced and hugely entertaining Fringe show. Strong comic writing, committed performances, clever sound work and deceptively simple design combine to create a production that knows exactly what it wants to be. Whether you are a Tolkien obsessive or someone whose knowledge of Middle-earth begins and ends with “that wizard with the big hat”, there is something here for you. It is silly, energetic and packed with laughs, and sometimes that is exactly what you want from a trip to the Fringe.

Fly You Fools plays at Pleasance Beyond, more information can be found via: https://www.recentcutbacks.com/fringe#fringe-fools