Greg Holstead, Author at North West End UK

16Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Macbeth – Greenside @ Infirmary Street

Gosh! Where to start on this highly unpleasant Macbeth mash-up. This is my 3rd instalment of my Macbeth marathon of the Fringe and an undoubted low point. Comparison is a wonderful tool! But at least you got one star! That’s for your Macbeth, the undoubted star of this particular show, who shone with hope and ambition in a sea of troubles. Unfortunately, there is no possibility to name-check said star because you didn’t care enough to provide that information! A show which shows no hand of a director, and the barest story and which has actors crossing each other, talking in unintelligible whispers with their back to the audience, and generally running around like headless chickens. A show which shows scant respect for their paying audience or for the craft of acting. Adding to...

16Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Intimacy – The Space @ Venue 45

This new two women play from writer, Sarah Nelson (Letter to Bodda) for Watershed Productions, sees Chloe in search of answers to female sexuality (or more likely her own), for her Masters thesis, and Nel as her more than willing, and highly experienced, respondent. The two actors come with significant credentials and are both excellent, Chloe is played by Caitlin O'Ryan – Lizzie Wemyss in the international TV hit Outlander. Nel is played by Imogen Greenwood, the writer and producer of award-winning film Natural Causes. In something of a cat and mouse performance it is never quite clear where this is going, or how it will end, until the final climax, where it all comes together with a bit of an aha moment of realisation. The linear Q & A structure is initially limiting and...

16Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Anna Vanosi Jazz Trio – The Jazz Bar

Escaping the bagpipes, the ticket pushers, the crowds and the traffic, to rest at peace for a quick hour and bathe in a little pool of jazz bliss with the Italian Diva herself, Anna Vanosi is just about perfect. Set below ground in the subterranean bunker that is The Jazz Bar, near the Museum, in Central Edinburgh’s melee, Vanosi ushered us through quite a quick catalogue of songs, mostly above love or lost love in the language of love, Italian. And some in the much less romantic English. Either language was fine with me, Vanosi’s voice was nectar in both. This is Vanosi’s second show at the Fringe this year, at the same venue, having completed a run of shows last week entitled, Late Bloomers Tales, which I also thoroughly enjoyed, but in a different way. The previous show is ...

Letter To Boddah – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

15Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Letter To Boddah – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

Taking inspiration from Kurt Kurbain’s suicide note to his imaginary friend Boddah, characters Billy (Kyle Fisher) and Tink (Jordan Reece) must decide whether to continue with their ill-conceived plan to explode a bomb in Tescos, killing themselves and countless other shoppers, or man -up and return to the reality of their dull and pointless existence. Kurbain finished his famous final note with the mantra that it is Better to Burn out than fade away, and that’s the big question at the heart of this explosive piece by writer, Sarah Nelson for Watershed Productions. Can Tink really blow up the nice lady on the hot food counter, who gave him an extra chicken drumstick, and does he really want to blow himself up on the day that his mum is cooking steak and kidney pudding, his favourite?...

The Billy Joel Story – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

15Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Billy Joel Story – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

A fantastic night of live music from artist Angus Munro, who channels the life and music of the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel. This is a brand new show for the Night Owl franchise, delivered in their winning docu-style formula, and works particularly well with the animated Munro filling in the blanks and projecting video and playing audio clips from Joel’s back story. There may have been a bit of roughness around the edges in some areas, but what saves this is the level of goofy, likeable humour that Munro brings, he actually reminds me a little of Jim Carey. There is also the superb musicianship of the Night Owl band, who are as usual fantastic and note perfect. Don’t expect a full concert with a grand piano, this is no more than a morsel, a quick flick through the back catalogu...

Back to Black: The Music of Amy Winehouse – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

15Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Back to Black: The Music of Amy Winehouse – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

A fantastic night of Jazz and neo-soul from singer Reine Beau who inhabited Amy Winehouse down to the last growl. There is nothing so enjoyable than watching an expert singer purring along, completely in her comfort zone and with plenty left under the bonnet if she needs it. In what was one of their first, and most well-travelled shows the winning Night Owl docu-style formula works really well with Beau filling in the blanks and video and audio clips from Winehouse’s back story. There is also the superb musicianship of the Night Owl band, who are as usual fantastic and note perfect. No more so than Luke Cunningham jazzing it up in fine style on the keys. A whistle stop tour through the Winehouse back catalogue in less than an hour, we hear the classics, Me and Mr Jones, Tears...

Baby Wants Candy – Assembly George Square Studios

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Baby Wants Candy – Assembly George Square Studios

The concept of this, from the group that also produces Shamilton earlier in the day, is to take shouted audience suggestions and to create a hilarious comedy musical on the spot. When I visited, Mimi Todd and Dear Euan McGregor were considered, but the clear winner on the shoutometer was Barbies of The Galaxy – the Musical. And I grudgingly have to admit that it was pretty damn amazing what they came up with. A funny, quirky, catchy musical with some inspired choreography, amazing music, great singing. It was a bit like watching a very early workshop run of a comedy musical that a comedy musical genius has been working on, in his garage, for the last six months. That’s the kinda vibe we are talking about. How?? This is a fickle thing, a show that one night might produce a one sta...

The Blondie Story – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Blondie Story – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

Comparison is the reviewer’s critical tool, and at 35 shows into the Fringe of 2023, it is only getting sharper! In the world of good, better, best, this one is good but could be better. And ironically, front singer Reine Beau might well be the first one to stand up and agree. In this brand new show, the winning Night Owl docu-style formula works really well with video and audio clips from Blondie’s back story throwing new light on areas that even die-hard fans might be surprised to see and hear. There is also the superb musicianship of the Night Owl band, who are as usual fantastic and note perfect. What works less well is Beau straining at times to reach the intensity and high notes of the new age Punk sensation that was Debbie Harry. Less than half way through the run I rea...

IMA (pray) – Assembly, Murrayfield Ice Rink

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

IMA (pray) – Assembly, Murrayfield Ice Rink

Hungarian group Recirquel Cirque Danse led by Bence Vagi bring this highly unusual aerial gymnastic show, to the equally unusual venue of Murrayfield Ice Rink. No ice here but this is certainly a pretty cool show, as evidenced by my two teenaged children who were simply blown away. Operating as six individual performers each with one solo performance per day at times ranging between 12:00 noon till 19:30. We signed up to the 16:30 performance, which featured artist Renato Ille’s, who gave a simply stunning performance, combining dance and aerial gymnastics, not to mention extreme strength, set within a light and sound experience that takes your breath away. As to the ‘performance’ itself, no spoilers here, suffice to say that it was an emotional almost religious experience wit...

Lady Blackbird – Festival Theatre – Edinburgh International Festival

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Lady Blackbird – Festival Theatre – Edinburgh International Festival

Ending her three week long debut album Black Acid Soul tour, LA-based Lady Blackbird, AKA Marley Munroe, brought it home in fine style at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre tonight cheered on by a packed crowd of adoring fans. On what was her first visit to the Capital, and hopeful not her last, it was clearly an emotional moment for the artist and her band as the evening came to a climactic end with tears and a group hug on stage. And why not, it has been a long time coming, as she reached out her hand to the crowd she explained, ‘I’m closing one of the most incredible chapters in my life’. The set list is made up of many of the tracks from Black Acid Soul, released in 2021. The concert features jazz covers such as Blackbird, which Monroe took as her stage name, and also some folk covers alo...