From the outset, The Spy Who Came In From The Park, from the Five Days More Production Team, establishes a clear satirical tone.

Apparently inspired by a news clip of a North Korean state gala featuring a Disney medley of singing and dancing in Pyongyang, accompanied by a rigid military orchestra, the production creates a world where political spectacle and manufactured fantasy collide.

The story follows Pae Jun-Hyuk (Chenyu Miao), a loyal North Korean sleeper agent living in Japan and working as a food vendor. When Major Ri (Meng Lei) assigns him a mission, Pae sees it as an opportunity to serve his country and readily accepts. His task is to escort the regime’s spoilt young heir around a capitalist theme park; the one with the Mouse, or a suspiciously similar version designed to avoid legal complications. The park nevertheless captures the same culture of souvenir-driven capitalism.

The production embraces its deliberately low-budget aesthetic. The heir is represented by nothing more than a small pair of shoes, while the set, designed by Yuhe Zhang, uses cardboard to create a charmingly inventive theme park complete with a magical castle and an oversized mobile phone.

The romantic subplot between Pae and Ryoko (Meiyang Wen) fits neatly within the conventions of musical theatre. Meanwhile, the regime’s heir buys everything from toys to platinum liability insurance so he can climb around the park’s buildings. On top of the fairytale castle, the heir loses interest in toys and becomes fascinated by the ability to look down upon the world.

Vocally, the cast impresses, delivering strong performances throughout. Despite several technical problems, including microphone feedback and music that cut out or became excessively loud, the performers handled each disruption professionally and remained fully committed to the production.

Chen’s has written an inventive storyline that is engaging and highly memorable with some genuinely lovely and catchy songs.

The production has many of the ingredients of a future cult classic, although its ambitious storyline packs a considerable amount of action into a limited running time. Expanding it into a full-length musical could allow its characters, themes and narrative to develop more fully.

The Spy Who Came In From The Park reminds us that satire works best when we’re in on the joke, and this evening everyone was.

Reviewed by Nina Gardner

Three and a half Stars.

Playing at  Forest Theatre at Greenside @ George Street until 22^nd August

Tickets and further information can be found following the link below

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-spy-who-came-in-from-the-park