Fringe review: SOLVE IT SQUAD, Assembly George Square Studios
Internet sensations Tin Can Bros have brought their 2017 show Solve It Squad to the Edinburgh Fringe this year as part of their tenth anniversary celebrations. Both the troupe and the play already have a considerable online following, due in no small part to the fact that both feature several members of the iconic Team Starkid.
Solve It Squad tells the story of a Scooby Doo-esque group of mystery-solving teens and Cluebert the dog. We’re introduced to them through a snappy opening song, and we then learn that Cluebert is murdered and that the case is never solved. We rejoin them twenty years later, when the team have to reunite to help now-FBI agent Scrags finally solve the case and gain the closure he so desperately needs. The team are dealing with some pretty serious issues, from addiction to PTSD, and they all need this case to bring themselves back from the brink of their own traumas.
It sounds like heavy stuff – and it can be at times – but in general, the script (written by the Tin Can Bros themselves, Brian Rosenthal, Joey Richter and Corey Lubowich) injects a lot of levity and humour into the serious subject matter. This Fringe iteration features a condensed runtime compared to the original production, which causes it to suffer from some pacing issues. It feels a little like we arrive at the hotel, which is the scene of the crime, and then almost instantly unmask the villain, which feels slightly abrupt, and the plot is on the more predictable side, but it’s still an entertaining hour.
Where this show really shines is with its cast. When we saw it, the role of Esther was played script in hand by understudy Kip Jackson (having apparently only stepped in three days ago), and Jackson absolutely must be commended for their performance of the wordiest role in the show – Esther’s brainy monologues are quite something to behold and their commitment to the role was palpable, with the script barely getting in the way. Ashley Clements as Gwen is equal parts narcissistic and loveable, getting in some great jokes about her newfound celebrity status. Joey Richter is the heart of the piece as Scrags, pathetic and earnest and often having to play the straight man to the other, more exuberant characters. Keith, the final member of the squad, is played to absolute perfection by Gabe Greenspan, infusing the stereotypical jock character with the ideal amount of likeability, making him a scene-stealer every time he’s on stage.
Special mention must go to Brian Rosenthal, who plays literally everyone else in the show – every suspect, hotel staff member, and masked monster the squad encounter. He has an absolutely exceptional scene with himself, swapping hats, wigs and glasses at lightning speed to create a stand-out moment which is probably the highlight of the whole show. It’s worth seeing just for this scene!
All in all, Solve It Squad is a fun, fast-paced riff on the classic Scooby Doo cartoons, sure to satisfy fans of the Tin Can Bros and Team Starkid and entertain new audiences too. Although its script leaves a little to be desired at times, the energetic, talented cast embody their characters so fully that their performances eclipse any flaws with the material.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Lorna Murray
Solve It Squad plays at Assembly George Square Studios until 25 August, with further info here.