Genuinely, the Hamilton-does-9/11 routine might be the single funniest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s partly the quality of the rap, which is even better at being stilted doggrel than Lin Manuel Miranda’s hit nonsense. But it’s also the absolutely scattergun, unfocused, both anti-establishment and self owning, nature of whatever protest movement this purports to be. At every moment THE MOVEMENT shrouds itself in glory and kicks itself in the nuts. It’s a joy to watch.
Ethan and Gigi, you see, are revolutionaries and tonight we are part of their movement. We’re also now complicit in their plan to blow up George IV bridge, in so doing breaking not only the fourth wall, but all of the theatrical walls, and filling the world with revolutionary theatre. Not once do this pair of New York clowns lose their grip on this high-handed mock heroic tone. In itself that’s a remarkable feat: even more so given the onslaught of tightly organised chaos they batter through. The twin towers and the unleashing of American neoconservatism are a touchpoint. The summoning of revolutionary spirits from the past doesn’t go quite as expected. If you think you’ve seen all of the visual gags involving a willy, then think again.
One senses they’ve not quite got the measure of the Underbelly space yet – a big and deep cavern that means they often end up in darkness. But with the chemistry this bickering, incompetent pair of revolutionaries have, that’s a small battle in a war they are very much winning. Vive THE MOVEMENT.
Ethan & Gigi Present: THE MOVEMENT, Underbelly Cowgate, until 30 Aug (not 17), 11pm