A Fairytale Frenzy with a Comedic Twist
After collecting my Edinburgh Fringe media pass (and dodging a few enthusiastic flyerers on the way), I made my way to Surgeons’ Hall for one of my first shows of the festival – The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon. If the title alone didn’t promise chaos, the opening moments certainly did.
The premise is as ambitious as it is ridiculous: two narrators attempting to retell all 209 Brothers Grimm fairytales in a single sitting – and not just retell them, but combine them into one giant, tangled, fable-filled tapestry. Familiar favourites like Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella are stitched together alongside less-celebrated gems like Lean Lisa and The Devil’s Grandmother. It’s a whirlwind of quick props, story collisions, and gleeful absurdity.
From the first scene, the cast fire themselves at the audience with boundless energy. The acting is sharp, the timing tight, and the physical comedy often laugh-out-loud funny. They bounce between characters at breakneck speed, and their commitment to the chaos is impressive. The humour works on several levels – there’s slapstick for younger audience members, sharp wordplay for the grown-ups, and plenty of clever nods for the fairy-tale-savvy.
However, the casting does lean heavily on one joke: there is only one female performer. While there’s definite comedy in male actors taking on female roles (and they certainly lean into the absurdity), the gag starts to wear thin with repetition. A more balanced casting choice could add variety without losing the humour.
Technically, the production is well put together. Lighting shifts cleverly to signal story changes, props are minimal but effective, and the energy rarely dips. There were one or two moments where the pace lost a little steam – understandable given the sheer stamina required – but the show recovered quickly. One practical note: during the “mirror on the wall” scene, audience members seated on stage right may miss the key moment due to blocking by the stage right actor. A small staging adjustment would ensure everyone gets the full effect.
Ultimately, The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon is a joyful, high-octane romp that delivers exactly what it promises – fairy-tale mayhem at top speed. It’s family-friendly without being saccharine, irreverent without being crude, and full of the kind of Fringe spirit that keeps you grinning long after you leave the theatre.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – edging tantalisingly close to five stars.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-brothers-grimm-spectaculathon
