Fringe review: MATES: THE IMPROVISED 90'S SITCOM, Mates Improv - Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The one with the improvised comedy. Don your sweater-vest and your Rachel hair-do and get ready to relive the 90's.

Whilst every improv show is different at every performance, MATES is specifically targeted towards fans of Friends and other sitcoms such as Seinfeld and Frasier. The only resemblance it has to Friends is that it begins in a flat in New York and that is where the similarities end.

It feels more drama than comedy. The suggestions shouted out from the audience are used up within the first minute of the sketch and leave the audience wondering where exactly this is going.

The trio seem to be more focused on their individual improvisation rather than approaching it as a complete picture, so there are a few too many stories going on at once; none of which seem to make a great deal of sense. It could be funnier if there was more of a collective approach to it.

A slightly disheartening attempt.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

MATES: The Improvised 90's Sitcom plays in the Fleming Theatre at theSpace @ Surgeons Hall at 4.30pm until 19 August.