I Kissed Batman ★★★★

If Fringe had the equivalent of Gotham’s Bat-Signal for new writers to watch, that light would be flashing all over Edinburgh right now for Lex Joyce, the playwright behind the delightfully funny and charming I Kissed Batman. A farce about five students trying to get through a rugby-team Halloween party with their respective dignities intact, I Kissed Batman marks the arrival of a major new talent in Joyce, as well as director Douglas Yannaghas and the show’s marvelous ensemble of five.

Damian (Michael Tominey) is hiding his budding relationship with Tim (Tom Showell) from his sister, which is complicating matters for the couple because Tim happens to be besties with Damian’s sister, Steph (Alex Paton). Steph is dating Jason (Ross MacKenzie), who is ready but nervous about taking their relationship to the next level and wants to make a big announcement at the party. Completing the quintet is Cass (Kit Laveri), the too-cool-for-school lesbian who has no friends outside the other four but is on the quest for a repeat evening of l’amour with a Dutch hottie.

Though Steph had arranged for everyone in the group to arrive as a Star Wars character, Damian decides to go as Batman and enlists Tim to go as Robin. As soon as Tim enters wearing his ridiculous Robin costume, you know he’s got to be in love with Damian because only love makes such fools of us all. Cass, haphazardly reading in the group text that Steph is attending as Princess Leia, decides she too will go as a member of the royal family and arrives as Princess Diana.

Hijinks and confusions soon ensue. At the height of the party drama, someone even asks “Was I Chairman Mao in a past life?” After surviving an evening of locked bathrooms, a missing boot, mistaken identities, a classic Katy Perry tune and a plethora of jock straps, I Kissed Batman ends merrily like the best farces do without falling into a pit of sentimentality.

Great credit to all involved for ably staging a farce at The Tonic where there is no wing space whatsoever. This reviewer can’t wait to see what this scrappy, talented theatre company comes up with next.