Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

Police Cops is a musical comedy for the ages, a silly yet political story told through energising dances, exaggerated stereotypes, and powerful songs.

Hot pink leotards and ‘dancerific’ moves set the story in 1980s USA, with the powerhouse performers poking fun at the racist and trigger-happy nature of American law enforcement.

Much of their comedy comes from their ability to play with and mock action-film tropes – from the sister who ‘unexpectedly’ dies following comical amounts of foreshadowing, to the dramatic reveal of the villain by putting on and taking off their glasses. Their gags are frivolous at times and witty at others, striking the perfect balance.

Jimmy Johnson (Zachary Hunt) wants to be the best police cop ever. He works for Molloy, a racist police chief, then partners up with the reluctant Harrison (Tom Roe), a renegade cop with a dark secret. Together they search for the criminal Hernandez, journeying to Mexico and back.

The five-strong troupe’s jabs at the American Dream – where you AmeriCAN, not AmericCAN’T – are simple, but effective. While drawing out and laughing at the absurd racism of the 1980s is a rudimentary concept, their high-spirited execution more than compensates for it.

Quick one-liners highlight the irony of trusting Americans with guns but not Mexicans, and a hilarious singalong tricks the audience into endorsing the police chief’s rule: ‘Never trust a Mexican.’  A two-fingered glove represents a gun, accompanied by only a brief pause in the music as it is fired, before the tone returns pointedly to jolly once more.

A particularly hysterical moment was when an audience member was pulled onto stage to prove he’s not a racist, a scene accompanied by a dizzying array of wrestling, dancing, and food scenes, all hilarious, and all showcasing the joys of Mexico. Synchronised dancing and impressive vocals showcase the varied skills of these actors.

The show began with a disclaimer that an understudy (Ben Lancaster) was replacing an injured cast member (Nate Parkinson as Molloy) – not that you could tell. Their characters are a joy to watch, as Jimmy has a meet-cute with Rosa (Melinda Orengo), reciting quotes from Romeo and Juliet to each other – and with typical silliness – also Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Rosa, a Mexican, also wants to be a Police Cop, earning laughs as she sings beautifully about wanting a life more meaningful than helping disadvantaged kids. Ex-Police Cop Juanita (Natassia Bustamante) is a presence to behold, her bizarre and dramatic flourishes and speeches holding the room in rapture.

Physical prop comedy, murderous cats, and policemen going undercover as bins - this is one side of the comedy you can expect. The other is more thoughtful, though equally humorous, as the law enforcers eventually come to the conclusion that being a good Police Cop is about stopping bullets, not shooting them - a conclusion that took the entire show to reach, once more poking fun at the realities of policing in a digestible and fun manner.

The standing ovation was well deserved.

Review date: 24 Aug 2023
Reviewed by: Kashmini Shah
Reviewed at: Assembly George Square