The Fit Prince (who gets switched on in the square in the frosty castle the night before (insert public holiday here)) at Pleasance Courtyard Review
Written by Liam Arnold for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Awkward Productions (the dynamic duo of Linus Karp and Joseph Martin) has gifted us another uproarious gem with The Fit Prince—a glittering, snow-dusted parody of royal rom-coms, stuffed with more twists than a pretzel and more charm than a Hallmark marathon. This snow-globe of theatrical madness spins its royal romance premise into something far more inventive - part pantomime, part Eurovision spectacle, and entirely unforgettable. Following their cult hits Diana: The Untold Untrue Story and Gwyneth Goes Skiing, this festive frolic delivers the same irresistible cocktail of chaos, camp, and fourth-wall-flouting fun.
The setup? On the eve of [insert public holiday here], in a frostbitten castle square, a royal switcheroo throws the Prince of Swedonia (a not-so-subtle nod to Karp’s homeland) into a madcap case of mistaken identity in a quest to secure the throne—and a spouse—before the clock strikes midnight. Cue Aaron Butcher, a baffled baker from Brooklyn, who kneads dough but gets folded into a flurry of mistaken identities, icy intrigue, and swoon-worthy silliness. The result? A riotous send-up of holiday schmaltz, packed with puppetry, live video gags, and enough meta-jokes to power a sleigh ride through the fourth dimension.
Karp and Martin's chemistry remains electric, their off-stage romance (they're literally turning their wedding into a Fringe show) adding delightful meta-layers to the royal romance at the story's core.
The crowning joy? Awkward Prods’ trademark audience interaction—where unsuspecting theatregoers are thrust into the spotlight as named characters, hurling improvised lines with gleeful abandon. Add in original songs by RuPaul’s Drag Race maestro Leland (guaranteed earworms), celebrity Zoom cameos (Tove Lo as a delightfully deadpan PM; Sebastian Croft as… well, no spoilers), and a scene-devouring stagehand-turned-henchman, and you’ve got a show that’s as technically clever as it is ludicrous.
This is theatrical escapism at its finest - a glitter bomb of clever writing, shameless silliness, and genuine heart. Awkward Productions continues to redefine what interactive comedy can be, and The Fit Prince stands as their most technically accomplished work yet. Essential viewing for anyone who believes theatre should be as smart as it is silly. Five stars—a holiday treat that’s naughty, nice, and *very* Awkward.
️️️️️ ★★★★★
The Fit Prince plays at Pleasance Courtyard until 25th August
