REVIEWS Archives - Page 13 of 406

Foil Arms and Hog: Skittish – Underbelly, Bristo Square

23Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Foil Arms and Hog: Skittish – Underbelly, Bristo Square

Foil Arms and Hog's "Skittish" was nothing short of spectacular—a brilliant fusion of music and comedy that had the entire audience in stitches from start to finish. The show was a full house, and it’s easy to see why. It’s hard to say whether their musical talent or comedic timing stood out more because both were equally hilarious and perfectly executed. The performance was structured as a series of interactive comedy skits, each more entertaining than the last. The audience was continuously engaged, unable to stop laughing as each skit delivered something fresh and unexpected. One of the highlights was an Irish comedy song that had everyone clapping along to the infectious tunes, blending humor and music effortlessly. One particularly memorable skit involved a comedic take on o...

An Evening Without Kate Bush – Assembly Checkpoint

23Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

An Evening Without Kate Bush – Assembly Checkpoint

Set within an L-Shaped church hall, with a cloistered balcony high above, this is a quirky performance space for an equally eccentric performer. My second Bush forage of the Fringe, looking for the authentic, here I find Sarah-Louise Young, someone who is getting closer. Youngs voice is good, the mimicry is close. But it is not the voice that takes you places no other voice ever did, climbing really high then sweeping down really low. The show starts well. Young enters unseen in a blackout, dressed in black with big black hair and draped in a black muslin shroud like a funeral attendee. When she turns on a mini red torch on her shoulder, it creates a nice ghostly lighting effect, which is also emphasised with some clever back lighting. She mimes trying to escape from below the bl...

Rahul Subramanian: Who Are You? – Assembly George Square

23Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Rahul Subramanian: Who Are You? – Assembly George Square

Rahul Subramanian’s comedy show was an absolute delight—a perfect blend of humour and insight, making it a total entertainer from start to finish. He kicked off the evening with a hilarious take on Indian parents and their expectations, particularly their classic line about not wasting food because "kids in Africa are suffering." Rahul then twisted this familiar statement by imagining a child’s response: "What about Indian kids?" The punchline— “That’s for African parents to tell”—was both unexpected and brilliantly funny. Rahul steered clear of sensitive topics, keeping the show light-hearted and accessible to all. His observations on the journey of becoming a software engineer and the reactions of nosy relatives had everyone in stitches. Another highlight was his bit on sales c...

Cat Power Sings Dylan ’66 – Edinburgh Playhouse

21Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Cat Power Sings Dylan ’66 – Edinburgh Playhouse

Running some fifteen minutes late, Chan Marshall, AKA Cat Power takes to the stage hobbling with a recently broken toe. It’s not a good start, but nothing compared to the distinctly lacklustre 45 minutes that follow, which are to say the least a huge disappointment, to me personally and on the evidence I saw, the majority of the almost full Edinburgh Playhouse crowd. People leaving, muttering, thank god that’s over, is never a good sign! Far from owning the stage, the American performer, with a distinctly quiet acoustic guitar and harmonica support, and an almost inaudible Hammond organ accompaniment makes heavy weather of Visions of Johanna, Desolation Row and Mr Tamborine Man. Powers rather convoluted and, frankly, untuneful interpretations of these classics, with constant referen...

21Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Weather Girl – Summerhall

World Premier Julia McDermot. Remember the name. Sometimes everything just fits. The actor, the script, the venue, the tech, the resonance of the story. This magic realist climate change monologue perfectly sums up the mood of our planet as it sleepwalks towards disaster. Julie McDermott appears, bubbly and smiling, like a human clone popped from a blister pac marked ‘perfect’. Pencil thin, blond haired and button nosed bundle of positivity, squeezed into an electric pink tube skirt, like a walking neon glow stick. She is the Weather Girl for a Californian TV station and totters to the microphones, spotlights and blue screens like a seasoned pro. She reports on a house that is burning as a result of yet another Californian wild fire, with a perky professionalism, “I can’t hold thi...

21Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Must I Cry – Paradise in Augustines

In this artful production, writer and director Bonni Chan soars over Hong Kong, exploring themes of loss and change in the country through the stories of renowned Hong Kong author Xi Xi. Produced by Theatre Du Pif, this show gives a masterful lesson in how to utilise all forms of artistry to create an immersive, cohesive, dreamscape. With projection, light, sound, and movement, Chen takes us on a moving journey from the fullness of childhood to the emptiness that becomes. The creative team behind this show are true visionaries – for me this was a completely refreshing piece – every element was carefully considered and furthered the story’s metaphor. The poetry which inspired this work absolutely comes alive and flourishes on stage – each aspect was crafted to literall...

21Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Jason Byrne’s NO SHOW – Assembly Hall

Jason Byrne’s "NO SHOW" is a masterclass in interactive comedy, and while he might not need a review—his reputation precedes him—here's a peek into the whirlwind of laughter he brings to the stage. From the moment Byrne steps into the spotlight, it’s clear that he’s a force of nature. His show is a brilliantly crafted blend of sharp wit, spontaneous interaction, and spot-on observations about life, especially when it comes to generational differences. The premise of "NO SHOW" is simple: an hour of non-stop hilarity where audience interaction is not just encouraged but is the heart of the experience. Sitting in the front row, you’re not just a spectator; you’re part of the show. This is where the magic—and mayhem—happens. When I attended, the front row was a mix of kids and adults...

Kanan Gill: What Is This? – Pleasance Courtyard

21Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Kanan Gill: What Is This? – Pleasance Courtyard

I went to watch Kanan Gill: What Is This? without expecting much, but by the end of the show, he had completely stolen the spotlight. It was absolutely hilarious from start to finish, leaving everyone in the audience roaring with laughter. The show was fully captioned, making it accessible to everyone, but it was Gill’s sharp wit and relatable humour that truly set the stage on fire. He touched on all aspects of life as we know it today, turning everyday situations into comedy gold. One of the standout bits was when he talked about the things we see on YouTube—especially those that highlight how imperfectly we live our lives, like common mistakes in breathing. The way he dissected such mundane topics had everyone in stitches. Another memorable segment was his hilarious take on th...

My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) – HOME Mcr

21Aug

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) – HOME Mcr

Multi-talented, social media sensation Rob Madge brings their award-winning production of My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?) to HOME in Manchester and tonight the audience welcomed them with open arms and a double standing ovation. Starting during lock down with Twitter posts and home videos of Rob attempting to stage a full-blown Disney parade at home for their grandma, with costumes going awry, Rob’s Mum mixing up characters and Rob’s Dad missing cues as Stage Manager as well as many other roles, Rob is here to tell the story from birth to finally completing this parade live for us this evening. Written by Madge and directed by Luke Sheppard, My Son’s A Queer is going from strength to strength, originating at the Turbine Theatre in 2021, it has had two seasons at the Edinburgh...

Annie Get Your Gun – Frinton Summer Theatre

21Aug

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

Annie Get Your Gun – Frinton Summer Theatre

As a reviewer of many years, I have to confess ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ feels like one of those underrated big shows I’d never heard of, but thank goodness I had the opportunity to watch it at the Greensward Tent, because it is a stellar production with West End credentials. If like me, you don’t feel familiar with the show name, it’s likely you’ll know some of the songs from the score: ‘There’s no business like showbusiness’ or ‘Anything you can do, I can do better’. And I’m sure by now you’ll be humming the tune! The plot is briefly as follows: Buffalo Bill (Nigel Barber) runs Wild West Shows where Frank Butler (Stephen John Davis) is his star shooter. They come upon Annie Oakley (Alex Constantinidi) a ragtag thing of a young woman, who can shoot even better than Frank. Cue a standoff,...