Scotland

On Air – Traverse Theatre

“On Air” mixes classic Fairy-tale characters and stories with modern sensibilities and need for “content”.

It evolved from small improvisations based around fairy tale characters in unusual settings, which were subsequently structured and developed by director Bradley Lewis Cannon. It is presumably from this latter stage we get the wraparound story involving a group of high-schoolers (an out-of-his-depth director played by Christie Gill, an ambitious Runner played by Emma Makin, and the genial sound-man Peter played by Jamie Duffin) trying to make a fake show as an audition piece for a TV channel together with its host, Kerry Minger (Finlay Gilzean).

Within this structure we get three individual pieces, two of them involving tabloid talk shows around Sleeping Beauty (Layla Crombie-Surgeon), Maleficent (Cora McNulty) & King Stefan (Andrew Dickie) and Cinderella (Iris Muir), Prince Charming (Finlay Gilzean), Shrek (Cameron DuPuy) & Fiona (Jason Sparrow) and a third around a reality dinner-competition involving the Snow Queen (Evie Smith), Little Red Riding Hood (Orla Meechan & Cora McNulty on alternate nights), Goldilocks (Molly Stevens) and Captain Hook (Maia Mcinneny).

Photo: Andy Catlin

The young cast define their characters well (especially Finlay Gilzean), though they might have done better leaning into their shared similarities in age, as they sometimes seem to be playing older, and they also worked well around the occasional prop mishap.

However, the inherent challenges of a stop and start structure (unfortunately here coupled with the pieces being placed in order of diminishing returns) stop this show from truly taking off.

Some well-delivered laugh-out loud jokes (both spoken and physical), an arc around Emma Makin’s runner, and a game cast & director ensure this show passes the audition, though perhaps after a second round.

Reviewer: Oliver Giggins

Reviewed: 9th June 2022

North West End UK Rating: ★★★

Oliver Giggins

Recent Posts

Come From Away – Wolverhampton Grand

From its first thumping, stomping almost tribal driving rhythms at the top of the show…

34 mins ago

The Election Monologues – Traverse Theatre

It was a privilege to be part of the audience for this unrehearsed reading of…

48 mins ago

2024 Fireworks Festival – Alexandra Palace

The 2024 Fireworks Festival at Alexandra Palace Park made a vibrant return, treating visitors to…

1 hour ago

Pop Off, Michelangelo! – The Other Palace

If you asked me to describe my dream show, I’d probably tell you it would…

1 hour ago

An Officer and a Gentleman – Hull New Theatre

An Officer and a Gentleman the Musical got off to a delayed start on Monday…

9 hours ago

The Ritual – Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

Is there a better example of Vampire Clowning in the UK? I doubt it. The…

9 hours ago