Globe & Mail - 7 March 08
"If the malevolent gods of Toronto's extended winter have left you feeling a little cooped up, literally or otherwise, may I recommend a restorative tonic? It comes in the form of an 80-minute piece of extended insanity delivered by four hugely entertaining performers" read this review in full
National Post - 8 March 08
"If you do only five things this week..." read this article in full
Toronto Eye Weekly - 5 March 08
"Our comedy is very edgy because we can take it really, really far. We’ve worked together pretty much non-stop for ten years” — including a two-year, 900-show run with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas — “and I think with that you get a certain telepathy and a certain understanding of how far you can go with it." read this article in full
Backstage.com - 22 July 07
"Among theatrical acts, UK troupe Spymonkey evoked comparisons with Monty Python and led to talk about bringing the show to such cities as New York and Toronto."read this article in full
Variety - 22 July 07
"Extra shows were added for Danny Bhoy, Billy Connolly, Eddie Izzard and for the British comedy troupe Spymonkey, which Bruce Hills [of Just For Laughs] said was "a real breakout," with interest in reproducing the show in Toronto and New York as well as some film and TV buzz." read this article in full
Montreal Gazette - 13 July 07
"Engaging, ridiculous and very very funny… Judging by the audience reaction (a standing O), it could be a crowd favourite this year [at Just For Laughs]" read this review in full
The Argus - 27 June 07
"'I have enjoyed many performances at the Brighton Theatre Royal over the years but watching Spymonkey take command of the full Theatre Royal audience was really inspiring' - Judith Hibberd, head of performing arts, Arts Council of England South East" read this article in full
The List - 23 Aug 06
HITLIST *****5 stars "Jaw-achingly funny" read this review in full
THREE WEEKS - 18 Aug 06
***** "Everything about this sensational show works brilliantly. An absolute triumph of comedy and theatre" read this review in full
The Times - 5 Aug 06
"After three years in ‘Sin City’, Spymonkey are bringing it all — minus prosthetic penises — back home, says Lucy Powell" read this feature in full
Hairline Magazine - 23 Aug 06
HAIRLINE AWARD WINNER *****5 stars
"Trust me folks, this show even has the critics going back for seconds and believe me it’s just as funny second time around!" read this review in full
The Scotsman - 23 Aug 06
****4 stars "Puerile yet sophisticated, genre-conscious yet wildly unpredictable, constantly inventive" read this review in full
Total Theatre Magazine - Aug 06
"Grannies blushing at the naughty bits, kids hooting with laughter, twenty-somethings on a date holding hands and grinning, teenagers from the local sixth-form colleges clutching each other in glee." read this feature in full
The Stage - 9 Aug 06
A STAGE 'MUST-SEE' "Just go to see Spymonkey and laugh. That’s all that needs to be said. Go. See them. Laugh." read this review in full
Scottish Television - 10 Aug 06
"...each performance is precisely played and every punchline timed to perfection" read this review in full
British Theatre Guide - 10 Aug 06
"...a deliciously over-acted murder mystery is played out by the charming Spymonkey" read this review in full
edinburghguide.com - 18 Aug 06
"The perfect Fringe show" read this review in full
www.one4review.com - 9 Aug 06
*****5 stars read this review in full
The Stage 25 May 06
"It is simply not possible to have more fun at the theatre than this. The End. Oh all right then, you want to hear a bit more. Well, be prepared. Your face will ache from laughing." read this review in full
Melbourne Herald Sun 19 Apr 06
"The genius comedy of Spymonkey deserves to be one of the hottest tickets around at this year's Comedy Festival" read this review in full
The Melbourne Age 19 Apr 06
"Spymonkey are very, very, very, very, very funny - and I'm not just saying that because I'm paid by the word." *****5 stars read this review in full
The Melbourne Age 13 Apr 06
"The weirdly assorted members of comedy troupe Spymonkey create big fun in their own places of pain, writes Stephanie Bunbury." read this article in full
The Groggy Squirrel 13 Apr 06
"“A deliciously demented Gothic thriller” is what Spymonkey’s 'Cooped' is advertised as and by George, they deliver!" read this article in full
Sydney Morning Herald 25 Mar 06
FEARS OF A CLOWN read this article in full
FFWD Magazine 3 Nov 05
"Hysterically funny... Stuffed to bursting with sight gags, inspired slapstick and hilariously incongruous musical numbers. These four gifted performers seem equally capable of witty character comedy as well as broad physical clowning." read this review in full
www.rockster.ca 1 Nov 05
"A must-see show. The consensus among the people I talked to is that this evening was one of the funniest things they've ever seen. Mel Brooks. Monty Python. Spymonkey ranks right up there. They deliver. And deliver. And they keep delivering until you're ready to yell "Enough! I can't take it!" read this review in full
FFWD Magazine preview 27 Oct 05
"compared to everyone from the Marx Brothers to the Muppets..." read this review in full
Daily Telegraph 23 Jan 03
"Effortlessly combines the farcical ineptitude of British am-dram with the expertise of four performers who know exactly how to entertain us. It is a dreary definition of culture that demands to parse the 'intellectual value' of the secret of making an audience laugh its head off." read this review in full
Independent on Sunday 19 May 02
"Cal McCrystal is the brains behind some of the funniest theatre in the last five years" Brian Logan's interview with Cal McCrystal read this article in full
Theatreworld.net 22 May 02
"Spymonkey promise a 'carefully crafted brand of lunacy' and they deliver. I
defy you to maintain a straight face! Highly recommended. On the first night, and the whole house was totally reduced to uproarious laughter" read this review in full
The Times 20 Jul 01
“So funny it would be ridiculous to miss it... There are puns, sight gags, a disco song, a peerless parody of Crouching Tiger’s martial magic and a nude pastoral dance that made me laugh so much my throat hurt.” read this review in full
The Independent 06 Aug 01
“Utterly infectious... a perfectly paced hybrid of The Pink Panther and Psycho” read this review in full
Metro 23 Aug 01
*****5 stars “One of the best most hilarious shows seen on the Fringe, Cooped is not to be missed...Almost made me lose control of my bladder” read this review in full
The Scotsman 21 Aug 01
****4 stars "A creativity explosion... A wonderfully, woefully miscast cast” read this review in full
The Herald 10 Aug 01
“Imagine Mills & Boon rewritten by Monty Python. Or the muppets doing a cover version of a trashy American Gothic soap. Fling in a fig leaf or three and some brilliantly ditsy clowning and whey-hey! You’re close to being Cooped with Spymonkey... SEE IT!” read this review in full
Hannu Harju Helsinki 09 Jul 02
Zurichsee Zeitung 10 May 01
Bath Chronicle 27 July 01
The Guardian 08 Aug 01
Evening Standard 24 Aug 01
Herald feature 08 Aug 01
The List 09 Aug 01
The Stage 16 Aug 01
Chortle.com 25 Aug 01
EdinburghGuide.com 22 Aug 01
