Turning Schitt’s Creek into a musical parody could very easily go wrong. Crapp’s River gets it very, very right. From the moment the Peony family arrive, this is an affectionate, completely ridiculous celebration of the characters fans know so well, and I found myself laughing almost constantly.
For obvious copyright reasons, we are not quite in Schitt’s Creek. Instead, Crapp’s River follows the Peonys: Johnny (Nolan Young), Moira (Grace Anderson), Alexis (Nora Delehanty) and David (David Irizarry), a formerly wealthy family now living in the rural town Johnny once bought as a joke for his son. With the town preparing for its Bicentennial Parade, Moira, Alexis and David compete to become Grand Marshal, throwing the characters into increasingly ridiculous situations.
The musical numbers are a huge part of why it works. They move the story along rather than interrupting it, and there are plenty of references for Schitt’s Creek fans to pick up on. Delehanty’s rendition of “A Little Bit Alexis” is an obvious highlight, but it is her performance as Alexis throughout the entire show that really stands out, she nailed it! The facial expressions, posture, gestures and very specific way Alexis carries herself are there from beginning to end, and she never drops it for even a second. It is an incredibly funny performance because it never feels like she is waiting for the next obvious Alexis reference or punchline; the characterisation continues even when the focus of the scene is elsewhere.
Anderson is equally hilarious as Moira, capturing that unmistakable voice, extravagant delivery and complete inability to approach anything normally. David’s fashion, mannerisms and reactions are also spot on throughout, with the wider cast of Erin Pellegrini, Ryan Romero, William Francis and Macie Cox jumping between familiar characters including Stevie, Roland and Jocelyn.
There is plenty here designed specifically for people who already love Schitt’s Creek, including a wonderfully silly running thread about gay icons, but underneath all the parody is the same warmth that made the original series so loved in the first place. For Schitt’s Creek fans, this is an extremely easy Fringe recommendation. It is silly, entertaining, packed with recognisable details and performed by a cast who clearly understand exactly what makes these characters funny. I had an absolute blast.
CultureCues Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Crapp’s River, Gilded Balloon Patter House (Other Yin), 21:15, daily until 30 August 2026.
Read more Edinburgh Fringe 2026 reviews.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.