Underground Monk Show review – hysterical visions enrobed in mystery
Underground Monk Show is reviewed as an inventive, highly physical comedy in which four Los Angeles performers play anxious, mysterious monks exploring birth, faith, connection and language. Initially opaque, the production reportedly develops into a richly strange and carefully choreographed piece, balancing absurd rituals with strong ensemble movement and comic invention.
The show features a newborn monk, an audience member’s lanyard thrown into a bowl with a “satanic” effect, and visions accessed through the bowl as a mystical portal. Standout moments include a nonsense-kingdom ball, an Adele-backed audience duet and a Bob Fosse-inspired birth routine; it runs in Edinburgh until 30 August before transferring to London’s Soho Theatre from 11 to 23 January.
- Four clown-monks create an inventive physical comedy about faith and connection.
- Strange rituals and audience interaction underpin carefully choreographed routines.
- The show moves from Edinburgh to Soho Theatre in January.
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Underground Monk Show is a stage comedy created and performed by four artists from Los Angeles. It uses movement, ritual-like scenes and deliberately unclear language to explore ideas including birth, belief and how people try to understand one another.
The performers play monks, with one presented as newly born, and use simple objects and audience interaction as part of the action. Its humour comes from the contrast between solemn-looking ceremonies and unexpected, exaggerated turns.
The production is part of the Edinburgh festival programme before a planned run at London’s Soho Theatre. Physical comedy and choreographed ensemble work are central to the show’s style.