Indy! comedy review: Raiders with a comic twist
A lo-fi Indiana Jones parody raids the franchise’s greatest hits with playful ingenuity, affectionate silliness and just enough Harrison Ford likeness to hold it all together
There remains a reserve of affection from several generations for the adventures of Indiana Jones and this pastiche parody offers a comic take on the best bits of the Indy franchise (so nothing about the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull). It helps the cause that Brendan Murphy is actually a reasonable likeness for Harrison Ford, meaning that he’s a constant centre-stage presence while Daniel Clarkson and Victoria Blunt gamely fill all the other roles.
Even at the time the movies came out, there were some accusations of racism, and part of the fun here is how the trio dodge those issues; their target is pointing out plot holes, replaying favourite moments with playground panache, and smooshing together scenes from the original trilogy to often charming effect. This is an easy-going, agreeably lo-fi show which manages to convey the Indiana Jones spirit with minimal props and maximum ingenuity. Despite missing out on a glaringly obvious ‘it belongs in a museum’ joke at this particular venue, Murphy, Clarkson and Blunt all show the comic timing required to make this affectionate, undemanding show work for all ages and classes.
Indy!, Gilded Balloon Museum, until 30 August, 4.15pm; picture: Steve Ullathorne.