Underground Monk Show comedy review: Absurdist mayhem
A committed cast of physical performers plunge the audience into an anarchic hour of surreal clowning and joyful nonsense
Four black-hooded figures enter the Piccolo Tent, moving as one. They’re clutching a plastic bowl of water, which several audience members are doused with in ever more ridiculous ways, from their heads to the soles of their shoes. This water is central to the hour of absurdity that’s about to unfold.
During the course of the show, each monk takes their turn to have some sort of spiritual awakening via this water… and that’s where any cohesion ends. It’s pointless to come into this expecting a narrative thread; there’s really nothing that ties any of it together. Audience members should only come expecting the unexpected, from potential romantic encounters with the cast to a full-on rave. The monks are played by an incredibly talented cast of physical performers. They work seamlessly together, their commitment to the clowning chaos carrying the hour.
But that commitment doesn’t automatically translate to a good time for the audience. It’s not always clear what’s going on and, while that’s all part of the fun, the staging doesn’t help. Depending on where you’re sat, you can miss chunks of the physical comedy that the whole experience hinges on. Still, there’s a lot to be said for a show that commits so thoroughly to not making sense. You might leave thinking, ‘wtf did I just watch?’, but that’s maybe the whole point and you’ll be laughing as you ask it.
Underground Monk Show, Assembly George Square Gardens, until 30 August, 10.15pm; main picture: Koltin Sullivan.