Another brilliant episode Knightmare and that’s great news.
It feels like there’s a little more budget to this season. We’ve lost the hilariously unpredictable, Doctor Who style, cardboard scenery that was always falling off and otherwise taking part of the show. We’ve gained some special effects via the new projected background.
We’ve not lost the comedic costumes for the various NPCs (non-playing characters) that the would-be Chosen One encounters in the dungeon.
We’ve not lost the laughs, the chaos and a show entirely based on in-jokes.
The game may have changed but the overall Knightmare showcase has not. I loved every minute of it.
Have you seen the TV show? I’m not quite sure what watching Knightmare Live will be like if you’ve no point of reference. Would you shout “You’re in a room?” when the blindfolded adventurer asks “Where am I?” or would you just wonder if everyone around you has gone mad.
Importantly, the cast are smart and funny. They make it work. Paul Flannery is an excellent Treguard, able to conjure up memories of Hugo Myatt, while ad-libbing jokes as required. Brendan Murphy does a superb job as Lord Fear, working the audience well and equally quick-minded. There were two helpers on the day of our visit; Katy Schutte as Feather Cat, the bunny and the shop keeper and James Rowland as the Viking. Both, of course, are also goblins. Goblins everywhere.
There’s more audience interaction this year. In a safe way; you won’t get yanked from your seat. We had no shortage of people willing to offer themselves as the blindfolded fool who walked into the dungeon full of whirling blades. Well, I mean, if you’re going to have a good Edinburgh Festival story you might as well earn it by dying horribly. We had an evil intern who turned out to be pretty damn quick witted too, Bonus.
Overall? Go see the show.