REVIEWS Archives - Page 296 of 548

The Drowsy Chaperone – The Space @ Venue 45

5Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Drowsy Chaperone – The Space @ Venue 45

This is – Way better than you might expect from a school production – a hidden gem. I had to see this. Given that this is one of my all-time favourite musicals, and this is the only Chaperone on the Fringe this year, I had little choice! However, I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer quality of this American schools production, by Charter Oak High School, supported by AHSTF, WorldStrides The show's own history is more recent than you might imagine. It started as a small sketch format comedy in 1998 before emerging as a more starry and elegant Los Angeles production a year later. The buzz stirred up by that production immediately set the wheels in motion for its transfer to Broadway, and the rest as they say is history. We view each scene through the eyes of the narrator (th...

How Long is February? – Edinburgh Fringe Online

5Aug

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

Scotland

How Long is February? – Edinburgh Fringe Online

How Long is February? A fantasy in three parts — a video production as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Voices from the South showcase. The play is part satire, part narrative retracing of actual events from recent pasts and part a fantasy of what could 'justice' appear as. A very timely production with the growing fanatic violence across the world. Nisha Abdullah's laser focus and thoughtful kneading of the audience back and forth across 15 years leaves one churned and thoughtful. The talented troupe brings to the stage the painful, poignant and patient questions we must ask. The play holds space for our disbelief that humans are meting out such violence to other humans. It dips into our collective unconscious of earlier pogroms that mentioned communities to be exterminated as 'co...

The Ayes Have It, The Ayes Have It! – At Spiegeltent Palais Du Variété

5Aug

By Tom ScottNo Comments

Scotland

The Ayes Have It, The Ayes Have It! – At Spiegeltent Palais Du Variété

This is politics as showbiz, an entertaining canter across a lush political landscape. An hour of political debate which was thoroughly enjoyed by a packed house in a wonderful venue. The evening starts with a prerecorded video message from actor Brian Cox. In Logan Roy style, he tells us to “enjoy ourselves - or else”. This show will be different each night. A series of ten debates on a variety of topics. The first night issue is one that has divided Scotland for a long time, particularly since the 2014 Referendum: “This house believes Scotland should be Independent”. The Director, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, introduces our ‘cast’ for tonight’s debate: Alex Salmond, former First Minister of Scotland, will propose the motion for the ‘Ayes’. David Davis, former Brexit Secretary, wi...

The Ballads of Billy The Kid – Royden Park

5Aug

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

North West

The Ballads of Billy The Kid – Royden Park

There sure was some hootin’ and a-rootin’ and plenty of a-shootin’ when Off The Ground Theatre rode into town…well to be precise Royden Park, Wirral. In the beautiful setting under threatening skies we sat, as the cast of ten, successfully multi-roled, in their version of Billy the Kid. In fact four Billys, hence the plural title of ‘Ballads’. Off the Ground are known for their excellent physical approach to theatre and interesting storytelling with plenty of audience participation- all that was in abundance tonight. This is a professional touring show with many of their troupe newly graduated actors but still with familiar faces who have been touring with them for a good few years. With a superb, really interesting soundscape designed by Mat Oliphant, well executed with eve...

Wee Seals and Selkies – Scottish Storytelling Centre

5Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Wee Seals and Selkies – Scottish Storytelling Centre

Wee Seals and Selkies is a magical warm hug from children’s author, Janis Mackay. Her velvet voice and adept physicality captures young imaginations from the outset. As we enter, she sits on the edge of the simple set while her musician companion, Donald Scott, warms the atmosphere with this fiddle. In this delightful family show, storytelling and music combine to create an enchanting performance, evoking the Scottish northern seashores. The Wee Seal is the true tale of a seal born in the storyteller’s garden, while The Selkie Girl is a retelling for children of the much-loved magical selkie myth. Based on two of Janis Mackay’s much-loved books; The Wee Seal, and The Selkie Girl (Floris Books), the sea and the seals are evoked both on stage and by the audience. The lighting, c...

After this Plane has Landed – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

5Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

After this Plane has Landed – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

I had to see this musical out of guilt. John McCarthy was incarcerated in Beirut while I was mourning my mother’s passing. His capture wasn’t even a teardrop amid my grief. Five years later, I gave birth to my first born. A friend sent a message excitedly proclaiming it is the day that John McCarthy is released. Who? Nothing compared to the miracle of ten tiny toes and ten little fingers. A real human being who’d lodged in my womb for nine dark months had finally escaped. Then, just 32 years later, almost to the day, this play appears. I can now pay attention. Exit Productions “After This Plane Has Landed” provides a one-hour precis of The Friends of John McCarthy, Jill Morrell’s quest to free her then boyfriend, and the pressure upon their relationship once they are reunited. ...

5Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

RENT – Paradise in Augustine’s

Theatre joins us together in a shared experience to marvel at talent, commitment, application and teamwork. And to ponder the writer’s message. Edinburgh-based Bare Productions drew a rowdy standing ovation for this 1990s tale of fear and solidarity in AIDS riddled Bohemian Manhattan. My neighbour for the evening, a transgender Dane called Daniel, informed me that RENT is very popular in the queer community. He enjoyed the show, saying he likes slice-of-life style theatre and that, while this particular musical is no longer contemporary, having been created before he was born, it is still very relevant. Appreciating and understanding the social history of the queer community is important. That’s the magic of Edinburgh Fringe: sharing views and exchanging human warmth with someon...

The Death of Molly Miller – Underbelly Cowgate

5Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

The Death of Molly Miller – Underbelly Cowgate

Ever wondered if a social media influencer and a thief could get along? Perhaps for the most part just not when the thief has the influencer tied to a chair! The Death of Molly Miller is a dark satire which delves into the stereotypes of reality TV social media stars and desperate thieves, demonstrating that you can’t always judge a book by its cover. When Thomas (Matthew Greenhough), a desperate burglar, breaks into famous social media star Molly Miller’s house, he ends up in deeper water than he’d expected as the star arrives home early. Miller (Esther-Grace Button) is loud, dramatic and overly unlikable, surprisingly putting the audience onto the side of nervous yet humorous thief Thomas. Despite their differences the characters work very well together giving a real back and forth...

Great Women of Folk – theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

4Aug

By Amy HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Great Women of Folk – theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

Folk musician and singer/ songwriter Elsa McTaggart started of her Fringe 2023 run with a dazzling show. A few technical difficulties during this preview attested that McTaggart does not need fancy projectors and sound systems to shine, only her guitar (and Irish bouzouki). Whilst this was a showcase of great women in folk, McTaggart introduced each song with tales about the women in her own life, such as her mum and sister, which added a personal depth to her song choices. McTaggart started of slowly with “Tulsa Queen” by Emmylou Harris which foreshadowed the great show to come. As she quickened her pace, she showcased incredible playing on all three guitars. She navigated tight-turns with ease and her finger plucking on the bouzouki was especially impressive. Her voice was equally...

Agatha Is Missing – Edinburgh Fringe Online

4Aug

By Angela KellyNo Comments

Scotland

Agatha Is Missing – Edinburgh Fringe Online

Written and performed by Prudence Wright Holmes, ‘Agatha is Missing’ is a single-handed performance about super sleuth ‘Miss Clarissa Marbles’ and her quest to find out about the real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926. This year the show is an online performance and opens to Miss Marbles setting the scene regarding the disappearance of Christie having left her home ‘one dark stormy night...’ With previous sold out shows at Edinburgh Fringe, Holmes is undoubtedly one confident performer. A US based performer and playwright she has had a varied career. From performances in the original cast of the 60s production of ‘Godspell’ to acting alongside Meryl Streep in ‘Happy End’ on Broadway and Whoopi Goldberg in ‘Sister Act’ and ‘Sister Act 2’, Holmes knows her craft well. H...