Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

Outrageously talented Luke Kempner has gone genre-mining to offer us a British police drama populated with some favourite characters from Line of Duty , Luther and Happy Valley, melded with musical theatre. 

He put himself under considerable pressure to perform 60 impressions in 60 minutes, but nobody was counting, it was too much fun. He nailed the impressions, using them to illustrate a daft story about the murder of James Corden and counterfeit anti-ageing drugs  dealt by celebrities

This show is to be celebrated for being massively entertaining with no artificially added heartfelt message bolted on for fake artistic lustre. The audience ate out of his hand from the word go, loving the recognition of familiar voices, familiar tropes and daft combinations of characters. 

 Kempner worked his socks off vocally and physically, a sweetly old-fashioned performer who did not shy away from asking for his dues from the audience, which they were happy give.  

The range of voices needed to be recognisable, so there was still Boris Johnson, Rylan, Harry Kane, David Attenborough, but also an uncanny Louis Theroux and Donald Trump among dozens of others. I’m surprised David Tennant didn’t make an appearance, because the resemblance is already there.  

Kempner can sell a gag, a song, a routine. He’s a one-man variety explosion. If you are after broody soul-baring and a journey, go elsewhere, this is a blast of laughter and music to raise the spirits, a refreshing, feelgood performance.

Review date: 10 Aug 2023
Reviewed by: Julia Chamberlain
Reviewed at: Pleasance Courtyard