#pressticket

Well, I am back again with my first review of the fringe season! I went to see “Planet of the Grapes”at Pleasance Below. It was so nice to start chatting to people in line as we waited to be let in, and it was quite a crowd for a preview show! Previews are honestly so lovely to attend because there is such a buzz for the start of the festival, and you tend to draw a crowd from the preview prices. The atmosphere was electric, walking into the space as the performers greeted us and immediately started to get us involved by handing us various props to be used later in the show!

I’m just gonna jump straight into it: this is a weird show! But weird is perfect for Fringe. The show is performed majoritively via voiceover whilst the performers manoeuvre a variety of puppets. It is absolutely Planet of The Apes but with grapes, but it is such a loving parody. The simplicity of the effects were so charming, and they had a big impact with the crowd as we collectively roared in laughter to see comic book pow’s and wham’s as grapes battle it out. However, the show does have some pacing issues. The voiceovers contain a slow drawl that adds a slight drag to the story and certain jokes, although funny, became a little repetitive. Please don’t get me wrong, this is a great show, and if you want something weird, fringy, and different, then this is a great choice. I just feel that some minor tweaks could help it become amazing.

I do wish to mention again, though, that I was watching a preview, so some of these issues could literally be down to testing and tweaking. The show is full of puppets, puns, and fourth wall breaks that are a wild time, and I promise you won’t see another show like it at Fringe this year!

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2