Fringe review: IT’S GONNA BLOW!, Pleasance Dome

Another element of Fringe visits is to see different forms of theatre and It's Gonna Blow! seeks to create an immersive experience with the audience members of the Pompeii forum meeting as the Mayor tries to calm fears before Mount Vesuvius erupts.

Carefully selecting those who respond in the right way when engaged from the stage is part of the art of this sort of theatre, and the cast meet us as we enter the venue. The concept is good but the material and characters created need to be stronger. The cast of four play multiple roles, too many in our view, and the show drags at times. There are moments of clever creativity with a mime artist, and Dr Richter selecting an audience member to demonstrate the size of different earthquakes. The Pumice protector offers a few good gags as well as a local farmer setting up an amusing line about being under the thumb of Big Farma, but is not enough to sustain the comic energy throughout. The search for a bin goblin does not quite land.

The result is a bit hit and miss, like the pumice raining down from the eruption. The cast work hard, appear to be having fun with the nonsense and the audience interactions show what this might have been .

** Two stars

Reviewed by: Nick Wayne

It’s Gonna Blow! plays at Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 24 August, with further info here.