Dreamgun: Film Reads

• Arusa Qureshi
• 6 August 2019

This article is from 2019

A fun hour with blockbuster movie scripts being shaken and stirred

You can always expect chaos at the Fringe, whether it be planned, spontaneous or somewhere in between. Dublin's Dreamgun have become masters of the 'somewhere in between' bracket, with their popular Film Reads providing an unrehearsed but scripted hour of authentic comedic pandemonium.

Each night, they rewrite the script of a classic blockbuster, tackling a different movie with every show, from Back to the Future all the way up to Harry Potter. What transpires is a version of a cinematic favourite that ramps up the jokes, gags and cliches to the max, with fast-paced dialogue and riotous performances bringing out the absurdity of certain plot holes and character traits. In the case of tonight's version of GoldenEye, James Bond becomes an insufferable lad backed by a crew of madcap villains and exaggerated versions of M, Moneypenny and Q, not to mention those stereotypical Bond girl moments and hackneyed catchphrases.

The updated versions are surreal at times, even for the actors themselves, but their commitment to staying in character, even when things hilariously don't go to plan, is what amplifies the charm of it all. Dreamgun's energy and the reliable wackiness of Film Reads is what ultimately makes it a consistently fun show to catch, regardless of the script on any given night.

Underbelly Bristo Square, until 25 Aug (not 13), 10.15pm, £10–£11 (£9–£10).