EDINBURGH 2023: Review: CRIZARDS: THIS MEANS WAR, Pleasance Dome, 10Dome

Will Rowland and Eddy Hare, the UK’s lowest energy double act (striving to be Europe’s lowest energy double act) tell the story of Eddy’s grandfather who fought in the war. The tale is based on the stories that Eddy’s grandfather told him and is not fact-checked “out of respect.” In their first song, Rowland and Hare preview what is going to come in the next hour, with the chorus singing, “We’re gonna do it anyway.” But luckily for us, the show is fantastic.

Hare takes on the role of his grandfather, known as Private Grandad because he is the youngest (names are opposite to personal qualities, like Major Nice Guy, who is a major jerk). He takes his role very seriously, never cracking a smile and plowing through just as he imagines his grandad did during the war.

His friend, on the other hand? Not so serious. Rowland takes on the rest of the characters in the story with an insane level of enthusiasm, particularly when he gets to literally wear a range of hats during a scene in a club. His characters, just like their accents, are absolutely ridiculous. I particularly loved his character of a young Belgian boy who keeps interrupting Private Grandad on his journey. He also plays an incredibly horrifying horse, dragging the prop around the stage and even having it nibble on a few audience members' shoes. 

Even with the ridiculous war story and Rowland’s absolutely insane characters, the show still manages to have a heartfelt ending, going from Private Grandad’s story in the past to Hare’s current life and his struggles with his monotonous job. The theme of friendship is clear throughout but really comes to light when Hare and Rowland have a heartfelt conversation about life and how it should be lived.

Ultimately, Crizards: This Means War is an absolute delight that will have you laughing at the ridiculousness of its story while also tapping your foot along to some fantastic music. Rowland and Hare are a perfect pair to present the tale of Private Grandad through a mix of song and story.

Crizards: This Means War runs at Pleasance Dome, 10Dome at 17:50 until 26 August.

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