Gilded Balloon
Comedy
1-12, 14-27 Aug, 5:00pm-6:00pm

If you've been following the Edinburgh Fringe for as long as we have, you might well remember comedy troupe The Trap.  The three-man ensemble became something of a cult in the mid-2000’s, thanks to their long-running spoof Bad Play – a theatrical trilogy so earnestly dire, that the box office read out a disclaimer before they'd let you buy a ticket.  The Trap's shows got worse and worse, and funnier and funnier, as the years rolled on… until suddenly, with the chaotic climax of Bad Play III, they called it a day and were gone.

But just as unexpectedly, the boys are back.  And this time, it’s musical!  We can’t wait to see the likes of Lloyd Webber get the “Bad” treatment, as The Trap turn their attention to a genre that's even more prime for parody than the theatrical endeavours of their past.  Expect contrived lyrics, technical malfunctions, bickering among the cast and a whole load of bad dancing, as the incompetent trio tackle the tale of a small-town boy who dreamed a dream in the big, bad city.

Needless to say, the return of an old favourite is fraught with risk, but the omens are good – Bad Musical’s been two years in the making, and the blogosphere, at least, seemed to love its opening run at the Camden Fringe in 2010.  Be warned, the press release mentions a “lot of swearing”, and the Bad Play series was always notable for its crass treatment of extremely serious topics.  As you watch, you may not be sure whether to be entertained or horrified... but in the end, we think you'll still sing Bad Musical's praises.