Mandeep Singh’s Singh’ing in the Rain is an effortless and fresh take on comedy. He breezes through bits of observation from tiny instances we have all faced but not dwelled on, perhaps. Mandeep’s comedy timing is brilliant. He plays such a diverse set of funny and relatable characters. His judicious use of props and music, expertly supported by his tech Fiona adds to the comedic charm.
From enjoying chips on stage that pack a punch to dojo eagle dragons who will listen to anyone troubling you and help you punch away your misery, Mandeep has the audience in splits. Remember thumb wars as a kid to pass the time waiting on the train? You can relive this memory on stage with a bit of competitive character, which will make you laugh till your stomach hurts. Remember that squishy banana you left in your bag last Monday? Or how tickled your nose feels when hay fever season arrives? It’s all there. The universality of Mandeep’s comedy is that it’s about everything and nothing; it is simple, honest, rib-tickling funny.
One of my most memorable moments was the story of the wasp and the driver; we all have the collective memory of the irritation, dread and horror of being around a wasp that might leave us with a sting. Mandeep’s endearing playback from the wasp’s angle in his adorable costume makes one giggle while also wondering about human’s folly in understanding nature. I would love for future iterations of this show to carry a little less focus on the bits of our bodies and more on the complicated relationships we have with them.
Mandeep teaches and performs regularly at London’s largest Improv company, Hoopla. You can also catch him with Michelle. He recently travelled to the Groundlings theatre in the USA to further develop this piece. This weekend he is running an Improviser’s toolkit three-day intensive, sharing tools he has learned over the past ten years.
Looking forward to more of Mandeep’s work keeping us singing with joy in the rain.
Reviewer: Anisha Pucadyil
Reviewed: 14th August 2023
North West End UK Rating: