REVIEWS Archives - Page 50 of 563

Anyone For Tennis: Pauline Eyre – Hoot 1 at Hoots @ The Apex

25Aug

By Susan CohenNo Comments

Scotland

Anyone For Tennis: Pauline Eyre – Hoot 1 at Hoots @ The Apex

Pauline Eyre was a Wimbledon line judge for 20 years and has very experienced eye right on the ball. Standing at the top of a flight of stairs dressed in her official Wimbledon uniform, she greeted her audience queuing below by stepping right into character, giving very clear, jokey, line judge-y instructions about where we should all sit courtside. Yep, she got us match-ready before we even got through the door. An impressive individual is Pauline - one of those people who looks as if she’s got all her ducks in order. She took time to greet and help organize the audience (a full house), instructing that we should all budge up to leave empty seats at the end of the aisles for latecomers, and then leaping to the back of the room to play her own introduction music – ...

A Pound of Flesh – Space 2 at the Space on the Mile

25Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

Scotland

A Pound of Flesh – Space 2 at the Space on the Mile

“In the Merchant of Venice, only Portia’s appearance in court and her implacable logic saves Antonio from Shylocks Knife” What if she never came to Venice? Bassanio’s played by Ollie Hiemann need for money to woo Portia Ruby Rutherston sets in motion the events that lead to the trial. So many unanswered questions play tricks with our mind as to why there is hatred between Shylock Danielle Farrow and Antonio Gabriel Bird the merchant. This plot sets the scene for A Pound of Flesh and in true Shakespearean style navigates through the layers of truth and tragedy. The loan has a treacherous clause that comes to bare. The staging is simplistic, with two benches, subdued lighting and music filling the void with drama and intrigue. Narration commences with Michael- Robert Brown who plays t...

24Aug

By Ralph JeffreysNo Comments

London

81 (Life) – Almeida Theatre

81 (Life) is an interesting experiment with a lot of heart, lacking in the structure and drive to make it fly. 81 (Life) is part of a set of community plays designed to examine what it means to be a part of Islington’s community. This installation follows a group of Islington residents (played a cast of 60 local participants) as a semi-secret group called ‘The Forum’ develops within their community. With them, we set out to explore the plays central questions of life: How to begin, how to join, how to choose and how to let go. The first two of these come through the story of Anya. After her friend Happy decides that she has become bored of their regular TV Tuesday nights and needs a break, she finds herself suddenly alone. In steps The Forum, magically appearing in her living room and e...

Jessie Nixon: Don’t make me regret this! – The Crate, Assembly George Square

24Aug

By Ross MackieNo Comments

Scotland

Jessie Nixon: Don’t make me regret this! – The Crate, Assembly George Square

"Jessie Nixon's 'Don't Make Me Regret This' is a masterclass in comedic storytelling. This is her debut fringe show, and Jessie was making the most of this opportunity. From the moment she burst onto the stage, Nixon had the audience captivated with her razor-sharp wit and unapologetic humour. Her relatable anecdotes and clever observations, occasionally dark ones, on everyday life had the audience nodding in agreement. One of the standout aspects of Nixon's show is her ability to tackle sensitive topics with ease and abandonment. She fearlessly addresses topics like relationships on social media, body image, and aging, making light of the struggles and absurdities that come with each. Her confidence and charisma on stage are infectious, and she has a way of making everyone fe...

24Aug

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

Lobster Pot – The Space

The Space is a theatre on the Isle of Dogs, managed by St. Paul’s Arts Trust (registered charity no 801587). As an organisation, they aim to increase access to the arts and support new artists. The venue was formerly St Paul’s church, built by a Presbyterian mission that started praying in the area around 1856. It’s been operating as an arts space since the late ‘90s and boasts Ian Mckellan as a patron. It’s got a charming bohemian bar and lovely staff, but visitors to this theatre might be advised to plan their journey to this ‘hood with better precision than yours truly. A security guard at Canary Wharf had never heard of the D7 bus and sent me in the wrong direction, to a remote and incorrect bus stop. He was friendlier than Google Maps, but just as useless in the maze of me...

Caged Sisters Musical – Phoenix Arts Club

24Aug

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Caged Sisters Musical – Phoenix Arts Club

Inspired by the Chinese epic Dream of the Red Chamber, this new musical—with book and direction by Sheldon Long—is a diminutive adaptation with much to recommend it but little to actually say. This iteration of the script, which is still under development, runs under an hour and feels more like a presentation of vignettes for audiences already familiar with the source material than a fully realized adaptation in its own right. Mounted by East Meets West Theatre in the iconic Phoenix Arts Club; this production was unfortunately riddled with technical difficulties that interrupted its flow and obfuscated its already difficult-to-follow plot. It tells the story of sisters You Er (Yiting Jian) and You San (Yiqian Shao), although this fact is not revealed until almost halfway through its...

24Aug

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

Spin Cycle – Etcetera Theatre

Set in a launderette, ‘Spin Cycle’ is a fly-on-the-wall peep into two strangers lives who meet whilst waiting for their laundry to complete its wash cycle – but are they strangers, or have they met before? Kitt (Zofia Zerphy) loads up her washing machine, just as Noel (Rhiannon Bell) attempts to do her own washing, but she has forgotten her washing tablets. Offering to help out, Kitt gives her some of her washing liquid, which leads to reminiscences from Noel about how her ex-girlfriend did the washing, and she is useless at it. As the conversation progresses, it becomes more heated and personal, and this familiarity can only mean one thing – that they have met before. But how do they know each other? This one act play explores the feelings of a relationship end...

A Shoddy Detective and the art of deception – Gilded Balloon

24Aug

By Ross MackieNo Comments

Scotland

A Shoddy Detective and the art of deception – Gilded Balloon

In A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception, Mitch Donaldson and Becky Bartram masterfully weave a tangled web of intrigue, deception, and physical comedy, creating a farcical play that will leave audiences guffawing long after they leave the theatre. A testament to its impact was the audience members recounting their favourite lines and gags on the way out. This riotous romp follows the misadventures of the hapless Detective Pidcock, a man so inept he is more likely to solve a puzzle by accident than by design—or so the writers would like you to believe. For fans of The Play That Goes Wrong and Noises Off, this play will feel instantly familiar, yet A Shoddy Detective brings its own unique style and charm. From the moment you enter the theatre space, you’re transported back t...

Sense – A New Musical About Dementia – theSpace Triplex

24Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Sense – A New Musical About Dementia – theSpace Triplex

Produced by Belgian-based company Plotfish, Sense is a touching new musical created in collaboration with the Belgian Alzheimer’s League. Gathering around the dinner table for Christmas, the Smit family is hosted (as they are yearly) by their Grandad Albert (Erik Goris). Being gifted a projector for his Christmas, Albert takes the family on a trip down memory lane as he peruses his old photos. The further the night goes on, the more Albert begins to confuse his memories - we realise the Smits aren’t the Hallmark family they are pretending to be. The family are no longer on speaking terms but have agreed for this one night to come together for Albert’s sake. Having been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years ago, they play happy families so as not to confuse or u...

2 Muslim 2 Furious 2: Go Halal or Go Home – Laughing Horse @ Bar 50

24Aug

By Ross MackieNo Comments

Scotland

2 Muslim 2 Furious 2: Go Halal or Go Home – Laughing Horse @ Bar 50

As the free sticker at the end of the show claimed, “First I was afraid, now I’m Islamified.” I wasn’t afraid but I was curious as what to expect and was pleasantly surprised, also glad I managed to take in this gem of a show. It was a Halal feast of comedy. The Garden room at Bar 50 is a tight squeeze and has a basic set up but the comedy duo used the space as best they could. They fulfilled roles as ticket sales, ushers, tech and performers, which is all part of the fringe experience. Once they started the surroundings were unimportant. What followed was clever and beautifully written insight. "2 Muslim 2 Furious 2: Go Halal or Go Home" explores the nuances of Muslim identity, culture, and experiences. The show's title itself, being a clever play on words, referencing the...