EDINBURGH 2019: Review: JUST CHECKING IN, Gilded Balloon
By: Natalie O'Donoghue Aug. 06, 2019
Just Checking In is a comedy theatre piece by impressionists Ronni Ancona and Lewis MacLeod. It centres around the idea that a once prestigious hotel is being taken over by Donald Trump- and the elite guests are not happy about it.
The storyline is pretty thin but it hangs in there just enough to be a vehicle for some excellent celebrity impressions. Any impression I didn't 'get' was definitely my own fault for not knowing the subject as every one I did know was absolutely bang on. MacLeod's Donald Trump is definitely the best I've seen and is the perfect match for Ancona's accurate Melania impression.
The strength of Just Checking In is its simplicity- it required an empty stage, good lighting and two incredibly talented performers. MacLeod and Ancona are the perfect double act and bounce off of each other so well. While it seems to be pretty well rehearsed, there's a bit of ad lib which works brilliantly.
The material is utterly bonkers and as the celebrity impressions start to take over the performers own identities. It is clever and funny throughout and the hour long runtime means it doesn't outstay its welcome.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ronni-ancona-and-lewis-macleod-just-checking-in
Comments
Videos