REVIEWS Archives - Page 154 of 548

24Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Fifth Step – The Lyceum, Edinburgh

World Premier The fifth step of the AA 12 step recovery program states, Admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs. This exercise begins to provide emotional, mental and spiritual relief. By sharing wrong with a trusted confidant, guilt and shame start to melt away. At least, that’s the theory. The Fifth Step, a play by David Ireland, received its World premier tonight. A dark comedy, directed by Finn den Hertog, stars a brilliantly watchable Jack Lowden as Luka, a recovering alcoholic searching for a sponsor in the Alcoholics Anonymous program. He meets James, a recovered alcoholic, played with assurance and sensitivity by Sean Gilder, an older man who, initially at least, seems ideal to guide him through the twelve steps. ...

24Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Sunshine On Leith – Assembly Rooms

A firm Edinburgh favourite, for locals and tourists alike, musical, Sunshine on Leith, set to the original songs of The Proclaimers, always does very well at Fringe time. Last years’ production by the same company, Captivate Theatre, was one of my Fringe highlights. So, I was looking forward to this one, accompanied this time by my musical loving daughter. Following a pair of discharged soldiers, Ally and Davy, as they return home, across Pilrig Street and via Central bar to their beloved Leith, it is a simple romantic tale which initially at least, leans more towards comedy than drama and lets the music do most of the talking. Early highlights, I’m On My way, it's over and done with, and Let’s get Married set the tone, and have the packed crowd chanting along to these uplifting son...

Salomé, Tragedy of the Femme Fatale – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

24Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Salomé, Tragedy of the Femme Fatale – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

Harrowing, dark, and honest, this one-woman monologue shows our femme fatale Salomé, giving her confession to a detective who is working on the murder case of Salomé’s husband. Based on Oscar Wilde’s Salome, this piece, performed and produced by Maryam S. Holleman, brings a new light to the classic tale. A beautifully written, thoughtful adaptation, Holleman uses the story to give power and understanding to Salomé – a typically scorned character, who has faced a barrage of misogyny over time is given grace. Holleman’s performance is striking and powerful, including raw subject matter discussing the abuse and turmoil of Salomé’s childhood. With discussion too around the South African apartheid as well as other violence in the countries in which Salomé had l...

Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story – Pleasance Courtyard

24Aug

By Torya HughesNo Comments

Scotland

Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story – Pleasance Courtyard

Diana, Princess of Wales is brought to life as you've never seen her before, in a chaotic sort-of solo show by Awkward Productions. Starring Linus Karp as the titular princess, who is often upstaged by Joseph Martin in the role of Camilla, the show also features very enthusiastic audience participation. The company are honest at the outset - this is the story of Diana's life, but there is very little truth to it. Instead, this is a mix of drag, multimedia, comedy and borderline slander. Certain audience members are chosen to play roles such as Diana's parents, the royal nannies and even the Queen's corgi. To their credit they all get involved with great enthusiasm and seem to relish the opportunity to hop up onstage. Charles is represented by a cardboard cutout with real hair stuck ...

Ghost The Musical – Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

23Aug

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Ghost The Musical – Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

The stunning Aylesbury Waterside Theatre last night hosted the opening night of the latest UK tour of Ghost the Musical which extends into 2025. This musical will forever be judged against the original production which began in Manchester in 2011. Sadly, in today’s climate it will never be possible to tour this show in that original format due to the ever-rising costs and the logistical complexities the show displayed. In this production, slightly updated from its last tour the set serves its purpose but no more and audiences need to accept that. Based on the hit movie Ghost is a story about Sam Wheat who is murdered on his way home from visiting his girlfriend Molly’s art exhibition and becomes trapped between this world and the next. His subsequent journey teaches him the circumsta...

All Eyes and Ears – The French Institute of Scotland

23Aug

By Triona ScullyNo Comments

Scotland

All Eyes and Ears – The French Institute of Scotland

Discover the powerful relationship between music and cinema with All Eyes and Ears. In this playful, live performance, two actor-musicians use a variety of traditional and unusual instruments to show how music shapes mood, tension, and atmosphere in custom-made films. Through different musical arrangements, they transform perceptions of romantic scenes, pursuits, and more. Audiences will leave amused, entertained, and with a fresh appreciation for the power of music in storytelling. There’s a saying among Edinburgh locals, "Only in the Fringe," that speaks to the eccentric, spectacular, mind-bending, and "What the heck did I just watch?" factor that accompanies some of the shows that visit our city once a year. All Eyes and Ears fits perfectly into that genre. It is a glorious multi...

23Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

Scotland

Larry Dean: Dodger – Assembly Hall

Dean is a comedian writer and actor and is fast becoming a familiar face on the TV circuit. With appearances at Live at The Apollo hosting and performing, Mock the Week, House of Games plus a stand-up slot on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. He is no stranger to an audience welcoming everyone in by shaking their hands as they enter the venue. Dean is in full swing delivering his show Dodger at The Monkey Barrel and the Assembly main hall. Larry Dean is up close and personal with his storytelling, being very candid about his diagnosis of Autism and his nans dementia struggles; plus the new ‘Brummie boyfriend’ of which he has the audience laughing out loud at how he explains the accent “feels slow and sleepy” a drawl as he wilts down to the ground. He uses his facial expressions ...

Assembly Hall – Edinburgh Festival Theatre

23Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Assembly Hall – Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Assembly Hall by the Kidd Pivot company is curiously absorbing. Depicting an AGM of a historical reenactment group, this piece marries quick-fire dialogue, precision dance, a great sound design (Owen Belton, Alessandro Juliani and Meg Roe), mime and terrific ensemble work. This ailing reenactment troupe in love with paying homage to chivalric romance takes us on a journey inside the minds of its members, with their dreams, fantasies and illicit affairs. The cartoonish mannerisms that illustrate the dialogue are exaggerated and aptly fit the battling excesses of a living history group. The compulsion to create long-lost hand-to-hand battle with clanking armor and heavy swords is intoxicating, indeed - almost an addiction which is hard to give up. Reenactment groups avidly research and ma...

Malvolio’s Fantasy – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

23Aug

By Marcelina KruczyńskaNo Comments

Scotland

Malvolio’s Fantasy – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

Malvolio’s Fantasy is a Shakespearian play with a modern twist. This funny, frivolous and energetic script was written by the Zuzabella duo or more precisely Zuza Sołtykowska and Isabella Olsen-Barone. The show was a feast for all the senses. Containing some truly eye catching make-up and hair most (notably Carmen Acoster’s pinktastic look) all these head turning designs were created by Ashley McIntosh. If that wasn’t enough the play contained some originally written music by Claire Wang and Magda Olech. Some other much loved classics were also thrown into the mix, that really managed to hype up and engage the audience even more. The play followed several characters’ stories that were all in one way or another connected to Malvolio. Overall, there was ten actors on stage, this in...

23Aug

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

Lost Soul 2 – Liverpool’s Royal Court

Although the title might make some presume this to be a connected sequel to a show they should watch first, they needn’t worry. I was five when the first Lost Soul took to the same stage in 2007 and so there was no chance of me having any accurate grounds for comparison, but, from what I have read, that show was electric with scouse humour, a laugh-a-minute kind of affair and I took those expectations with me into Lost Soul 2. You’re never far away from a laugh in the Royal Court and this show was no different. Straight away it’s adult content and unapologetic farce gives you a flavour of the rest of the evening and that doesn’t let up, I was pleasantly surprised to see. The comedy was well-balanced and well-timed. Though sometimes predictable, it genuinely had people rolling around ...