EDINBURGH 2023: Review: POLICE COPS: THE MUSICAL, Assembly George Square Studios

After seeing Police Cops: Badass Be Thy Name and loving the group’s sense of humour and fantastic dynamic, I knew that I wanted to see their 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival show, Police Cops: The Musical. Somehow, this show managed to exceed my already high expectations, making for a perfect last show at the Fringe. 

Immediately, the audience is thrown into the world of 1980s America with the cast wearing jazzercise outfits and singing about how great America in the 80s is. Ben Lancaster absolutely shines as Jimmy Johnson, a young man who is determined to be “the best damn Police Cop ever” and will do whatever it takes to make his dreams come true. Lancaster was on as an understudy for actor and creator Zachary Hunt and did a fantastic job with the role, playing Johnson as a naive yet determined character ready to avenge the “untimely” death of his sister. 

Tom Roe is hilarious as always, this time taking on the role of ex-Police Cop Harrison, a man who refuses to talk about his past and who is responsible for most of the show’s silliest (and dumbest) jokes, including a hilarious semi-improvised scene which included the line “A porcupine full of exciting truths about Vietnam.” Only in a Police Cops show can you find this, readers.  Nathan Parkinson doubles up as both the racist Police Cop Chief and Hernandez, the criminal responsible for drug-related crimes in both the United States and Mexico. One of the funniest bits in the show involves Parkinson, a tall man, “sitting on” (read: hunched over) another cast member’s legs, dressed up as a cat. 

Melinda Orengo does a fantastic job as Lancaster’s love interest, Rosa, with a show-stopping number about wanting to do more with her life as she works in an orphanage in Mexico. Natassia Bustamante nearly steals the show as former Police Cop Chief Gonzalez, an absolutely insane woman who falls in love with an audience member known as “The Racist” (trust me, it makes sense within the show!) and has deadly aim. Both Orengo and Bustamante have vocals and dance skills that allow them to fit perfectly into the musical, easily surpassing the male actors in this respect. 

There is an absolutely hilarious gag involving babies and bungee cords that had me in tears of laughter several times throughout the show, which illustrates the brilliance of the Police Cops and their writing - Even though you can clearly see what is going to happen, it is still funny, and the obviousness actually adds to the bit. If there is one note I can make as a critique of the show, it would be that several of the jokes are UK-centric, which is strange in an American-based musical, like a running gag about Henry Hoover. 

Ultimately, Police Cops: The Musical is ridiculous and stupid in the best way possible, taking musical comedy to the next level with its silly jokes, clever choreography, and fantastic songs. As an American, I loved the jokes made at my home country’s expense.

Police Cops: The Musical is at the Southwark Playhouse Borough from 8 September - 14 October

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