Once more into the breach, dear … well, you know the rest. On the scale of horribly overused quotes …. Anyway, I am still in Edinburgh, scouring the streets for hit shows. I evidently forgot to touch wood last time, however, as I have been suitably punished for bragging about a rain-free Burg. Starting shortly after the last post, it rained. And was misty. And is still misty. And raining. But theatres are dry, and I have spent much time within them. So, read on:
Broken Holmes: A parody of Sherlock Holmes, with full apologies extended to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this is a funny and irreverent episode. Holmes is a bully, even to his dear Doctor Watson; Watson is a slow, loyal friend, who has had it up to here with Holmes’, and the detective’s inability to remember anniversaries. As Doctor Watson exposes Holmes’ egocentric re-writing of his cases, they embark on yet another. The humour is quick, and an endearing performance comes from the actor playing Holmes, but the wit of the posters remain ever so slightly more arresting than the show itself. ***
Bedtime Solos: Two characters expose the isolation of people even in the most physically intimate moments between them. Extensive monologues draw the audience right into each character’s experience and the physical aspect underlines the theme of people never really connecting with each other. The script loses its hold with the overly symbolic and descriptive nature of the female’s monologues, but strong performances and a touch of humour keep it engaging. Worth a look, and definitely different from what you expect going in. ***1/2
Nirbhaya: Taking the rape of a young girl on a New Delhi bus in December last year as their impetus, the cast give an astonishingly brave performance and give the women and children of India, who suffer physical, verbal, sexual and emotional abuse, a voice. A minimalist set and the raw emotion, moving many of the audience to tears of shock, make for the most vital piece at the Fringe. This is important. *****
The Bridge That Tom Built: This one-man show is the reason I go the Fringe: a tiny, unpretentious set, an actor gifted at story-telling and with comic timing, and the extraordinary life story of Thomas Paine, founding father, social activist, and persona non grata in more countries than you can shake a stick at. Brilliant ad-libbing at latecomers just adds to its charm. A must-see. ****1/2
Coming Soon: Agamemnon, Howie the Rookie, Shakespeare for Breakfast.
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