Showing @ Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh until Mon 26 Aug @ 21:00
The Pajama Men know where their strengths are; quick-paced, physically inventive, pajama’d absurdity. Their newest show keeps the standards of performance they’re famed for but occasionally feels like they are still deciding exactly which material is the strongest. Shenoah Allen’s Jersey Shore pastiche boyfriend, man who finds everything ‘too easy’ and the returning Leopold are all highlights, excellently complemented by Mark Chavez’s slightly off-balance straight-man characters.
Other elements, including the overarching story of a coming monster attack are all strong material but sometimes lose their individuality. Their improv beginnings are clearly evident, and dealing with a defective mic provides some of the biggest laughs, but the show does not feel as tight as some of their past offerings, though it might well get there. Whether the Pajama Men are sketch or something completely of their own is debatable, but they are certainly incredibly talented and distinctive with their own defined niche. They are a welcome return to the Fringe with a show and style everyone ought to see at least once.