John Robertson's The Dark Room

     If the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is about letting the little guy play with the big guys, about innovation and creativity, about finding a show that at first baffles and then delights, then this is the perfect Fringe show. Based on a text-based Youtube game which swiftly went viral, John Robertson brings us his live version of an eighties' low-budget video game.
     It is unlike anything else on the Fringe this year. It relies heavily on audience participation but even more so on Robertson's own wit and the strength of the prepared game screen-shots. It is wonderfully well made and self-consciously low-budget. Prizes range from ancient computer games to rubber gloves and considering the fact that every Fringe contains more Shakespearian adaptations than you can wave a ruff at, it is mind-bendingly awesome that this exists in the first place.
     A few minutes' introductory stand-up sees Robertson leaping across the stage in leather trousers and black corset, establishing who of his audience are children of the eighties and who among us will need more explanation of what is about to happen. What does happen is the swift introduction of the text-based adventure game genre and the dimming of the lights.
               Suddenly, we awake to find ourselves in a dark room.
     Audience members, either volunteers or the volunteered, choose among options and take steps further into the 300-screen adventure Robertson has slaved over. Unfortunately, we often don't get very far, but Robertson's humour is unfailing and his patter simply phenomenal. At some stage, two people have completed this enormous game; others have attempted to map out the universe in which the Dark Room exists; yet more have simply reached their limit and given up. I was sorely tempted to go back, since my own foray into the Dark Room lasted but a few steps this time, though I feel it will take more than one Fringe to complete this game.