A masterclass in physical theatre that left me laughing and crying!

Smile: The Story of Charlie Chaplin is a one-man triumph. Marcel Cole takes on the life of Charlie Chaplin and, for 60 luminous minutes, becomes him in spirit, movement and soul. It is a heartfelt biography.

From the first perfectly angled tilt of the bowler hat to that unmistakable, delicate shuffle of Chaplin’s walk (yes, the walk is glorious), Cole’s physical control is extraordinary. 

His mime work is sharp and full of feeling; every small movement seems to matter, but looks effortless. With almost nothing on stage but a few props and some simple words on the screen, he manages to pull whole worlds into focus.

Most of the show unfolds in silence, which makes the unexpected shift into sound - mirroring Chaplin’s own move from silent films to talkies even more powerful. The audience reacted with delight at this clever trick, and it reminded me of the surprise I experienced the first time I saw the Wizard of Oz.

Cole’s ability to move between comedy and pathos is superb. There are sequences of pure delight, including a bold, athletic physical theatre moment during The Great Dictator that drew huge laughter - real belly laughs - yet the emotional weight lands just as strongly. By the end, I found myself unexpectedly in tears. I was 100% invested in the life of this extraordinary man and deeply moved by his story.

Audience members are gently drawn into the narrative as figures from Chaplin’s life, the result feels communal, immersive and joyful, making each show unique.

This is a diamond of a Fringe show: intelligent, family-friendly, deeply human. I walked away wanting to know more about Chaplin - and in awe of Cole’s artistry.