one4review | On 09, Aug 2023

 The classic board game Monopoly is well known around the world, there are various versions of the game but what one were we going to get this time? The all but full auditorium waited with eager anticipation as Benjamin entered and treated us to a short cabaret before explaining the origins of the game. 

Two players are selected from the audience to compete against each other, their personality and reactions are key to the show being a success as they are the main props. Hats were handed out with the names of certain properties on them before the players pick their board piece which in this case was the dog and the wheelbarrow. 

The rules were explained with constant audience participation taking place, new rules were created via audience suggestions and votes were cast to determine which suggestions would be used. In this show, the players had to impersonate a movie star, speak in a foreign language, divulge a secret and arm wrestle to win Monopoly money which allowed them to buy property. When the music starts the players board piece is passed around the audience till the music stops and whichever property (Hat) the piece lands on, the player can buy that property. The chance cards are also used to good effect, creating more humour and hilarity and a bell is given to one audience member who can ring it once to reverse the last move or forfeit, this was used to great effect causing Benjamin to improv very quickly to recover the situation. 

Throughout the whole process the audience are consulted on a number of random topics, the players and the host have to do forfeits as the pace of the game speeds up which is ironic given the actual board game can be extremely slow. Benjamin’s delivery is controlled but at times chaotic as the game turns into a comedy that reminded me of a cross between Michael McIntyre and the chaotic Basil Fawlty! There is so much improv here that each show would be significantly different while the monopoly game continues in the background. It almost gets out of hand before the conclusion of the game. 

A 100mph dash around the board taking no prisoners to jail while leaving a destructive trail of comedy in his wake of a board game that brings the audience into play at every opportunity, will soon have you lined up at the start line ready to pass go! 

 4.5****

Reviewed by Steve

Assembly, George Square, The Crate

17.50 (1hr)

Until 28 Aug (not 15)