REVIEWS Archives - Page 165 of 545

Abi Clarke: (Role) Model – Pleasance Courtyard Beneath

11Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

Abi Clarke: (Role) Model – Pleasance Courtyard Beneath

Abi Clarke rose to fame overnight via a TikTok video that went viral, ever since she has been climbing the social media and stand-up comedy ladder, but with all this new found fame she is left with one major dilemma: does this mean that she should have to be a role model now too? In this rather funny stand-up comedy show Clarke addresses what it means to be a stereo typical “role model”, the limitations to being an influencer by trade and pressures that we women put on ourselves in this day and age. We learn about how fame has changed her as a person and question if one can truly be a role model when their favourite TV moments are those of pretty girls getting their hair chopped off on American’s Next Top model. Abi is a natural performer, her energy is infectious and she is just...

11Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Edinburgh Liminal – Museum of Edinburgh

On a, thankfully, sunny day, the Holstead family are Team 4 and directed by the delightful Carmel Calvin, to go forth and make some sweet music at a specific location, located by solving a puzzle. We have exactly an hour to return. Brains suitably tested, puzzle solved, we set off with Steel tongue drum, thumb piano and maraca into the Edinburgh throng. It’s a hot day, but the kids, plinking on thumb piano and shaking maracas (carnival style) are not complaining, yet. In fact we draw some admiring glances, heads turn and smile. I’m sure if we had a hat we could make some money here! A short walk and ice cream stop later we arrive, the kids miraculously still not complaining. Water tinkles in the background and we decide that this should definitely be part of our soundscape record...

Married at Fringe Sight — theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

11Aug

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

Scotland

Married at Fringe Sight — theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

Are you looking for love at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe? Whether you’re on the hunt for a quick fling or your future spouse, The Queer Comedy Club are here to help with their very fun new show Married at Fringe Sight. Hosted by comedians David Ian and Jeremy Topp, audience members are invited to scan a QR code and answer questions about topics such as their worst ever date, their ideal partner, and the worst thing about their last (or current) partner to help the duo play match-maker. But this isn’t just a show for singletons. We’re told that in this space, for one night only, relationship status, sexuality, and preferences are thrown completely out the window — handy, given that the ratio of straight women to straight men in my audience was approximately 20:1. Once the comed...

The Dreamer: Live – Underbelly Circus Hub

11Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Dreamer: Live – Underbelly Circus Hub

One of the most heavily (and successfully) promoted shows I’ve ever seen on the Fringe, the ubiquitous posters have foretold of the coming of the boy wonder, James Phelan, long before his arrival. But is it and is he really up to the hype? Well, yes and no. Without wanting to give too much away – no spoilers here – the show is certainly entertaining. In Underbelley’s giant Spiegeltent know as ‘The Beauty’, Phelan holds court from a raised ‘in the round’ centre stage, which suits his style of friendly bonhomie. His quick wit plays on the answers from various audience volunteers and draws easy and relaxed laughs, and never in a nasty way. The biggest surprise and to some extent, disappointment, here, is that this is not really a magic show at all, in the traditional sense, but m...

Divas of Jazz – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

11Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Divas of Jazz – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

Singer Hannah Hay exudes youthful appreciation of her genre, swaying barefoot before an excellent five-piece in the comfortable and intimate space that is quite possibly the best appointed live music venue in Edinburgh in August. The great acoustic, leather seats and ample legroom usually make it an easy and clever choice for music lovers. Particularly those of a certain age! Unfortunately, the music of jazz so often borne of toil and pain and heartache, and at home in happy, low-lit backstreet bars or clandestine hotel lounges, struggles to sound authentic or nuanced in this luxurious a setting and between these so directionally well lit walls. There is no atmosphere. Which is a shame, because Hay is an accomplished singer and the musicianship behind her is also excellent. St...

11Aug

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

Bedroom Farce – The Mill at Sonning

Nestled on a picturesque spot over a water mill, The Mill at Sonning offers a charming escape only a short train ride from London. This gorgeous venue, celebrated as "Most Welcoming Theatre" three years in row, offers a tasty lunch, delightful scenery and impeccable service from an attentive staff both in the restaurant and at the theatre. Now if one cannot recommend this dinner theatre enough - one of the very few in the country - its lively charm stood in stark contrast to the underwhelming performance of Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce, under the direction of Robin Herford. Set across three different apartments over one chaotic night, the play explores the entangled lives of four couples, each grappling with their own neuroses and relational issues. While Ayckbourn’s intent may...

Spring Awakening – Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre

10Aug

By Andrew LeeNo Comments

North West

Spring Awakening – Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre

Spring Awakening is a story of how sexual desires take hold of teenagers as they reach the precipice between childhood and adulthood. It is an exploration of the potential dangers of oppressing these desires, and of improper education about them. First hitting Broadway in 2006 after several years of previews and concerts, the importance of the show's theme is not to be understated and is as relevant in the 21st century as ever. The juxtaposition of alternative rock set against a religious, conservative backdrop is a real interesting concept. Over the last few years, I have seen lots of productions by Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre and have always found their ambition to be their greatest strength. Their production of ‘Chess’ a couple of years ago was particularly terrific, and Spring Aw...

Me For You – Pleasance Courtyard (The Green)

10Aug

By Tom ScottNo Comments

Scotland

Me For You – Pleasance Courtyard (The Green)

‘Me for You’ is a fascinating play about two women who are in love. It has a sparkling, very funny script and is beautifully performed. The climate emergency provides an intriguing backdrop to this contemporary drama. Holly has been seeing Jake for quite some time. Now they want to have a child together. But Jake comes to regret the day he introduces Holly to his friend and workmate, Alex. The two women quickly fall in love. For a while Holly continues to sleep with Jake but, as she’s also having an affair with Alex, she stops taking the pill. Holly finally tells Jake the truth. Understandably he’s very upset. And Holly’s assurance that “It’s you, not me” and that she still cares about him, doesn’t really help Jake to feel any better. Two people had loved each other. But the r...

An Asian Queer Story: Coming Out to Dead People – Assembly Roxy

10Aug

By Wendy McEwanNo Comments

Scotland

An Asian Queer Story: Coming Out to Dead People – Assembly Roxy

Ricky Sim is a gifted storyteller. He talks beautifully about the complexities of coming out as gay to his Malaysian family, and his grief following the death of his beloved mother. He also tells a lot of dick jokes. Sim engages energetically with the crowd as he introduces us to the intricacies of “Gaysian” culture and the accompanying slang. Do you know why Sim decided not to major in computer science? Go to his show and you will find out. Just when Sim was preparing to come out to his mom, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was afraid that he might break her heart. He wished that there was a gay Asian role model he could point to, so that she would know he could be happy. Sim fills our hearts with memories and little details about his mother. Years after her passing, w...

Jake Donaldson: Spectacle – Mash House, Just the Attic

10Aug

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

Scotland

Jake Donaldson: Spectacle – Mash House, Just the Attic

Jake Donaldson delivers a hilarious hour of entertaining and at times informative comedy in his stand-up show Spectacle. Donaldson is partially sighted, meaning he sees things, in his words, ‘like a memory’. He has a picture, but it’s blurry round the edges. Donaldson uses his disability as a starting point for some truly brilliant humour. Most notably, there’s an ‘audio description’ recording that plays on and off throughout the show. Beginning as a simple description of Donaldson’s movements around the venue, the ‘voice’ soon goes off-piste, insulting both his appearance and his routine. I don’t want to give anything away, but the audio description even allows for a closing twist that made several members of the audience gasp (myself included). I had an enormous grin on my face...