FESTIVAL THEATRE | Reviews at a Glance

For full length versions of these reviews see list.co.uk/festival Awakening, Sweet and Sour Sensory Composition ●●●●● The most mystifying thing about Awakening from London-based Nitroglicerina Theatre is just how little actually seems to happen. But each person’s experience of it will necessarily be entirely different: try it, and you never know what you might discover. (David Kettle) Spotlites, 220 5911, until 22 Aug (not 12), 4.40pm, £8.50 (£6.50). The Bastard Queen! ●●●●● The Bastard Queen! is redeemed slightly by a host of strong performances Phill Bulman, in particular, shines in the comic scenes. But the play’s black humour often misses the mark, and its mix of the mundane and the monstrous offers little in the way of innovation or originality. (Jordan Shaw) theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 510 2384, until 29 Aug (not 16, 23), 8.40pm, £10 (£8). Can I Start Again Please ●●●●● A thoughtful, intelligent, and occasionally harrowing show, Can I Start Again Please poses some fascinating philosophical questions and perfectly captures the feeling of powerlessness experienced by child abuse victims. (Jordan Shaw) Summerhall, 560 1581, until 30 Aug (not 10, 17), 2.50pm, £10 (£8). CELL ●●●●● The production slows down in its third act and seems to struggle to fill the hour, but it’s an inspiring story with an enchantingly human central character. Combining a mix of puppetry forms and an evocative original score with breathtaking technical brilliance, CELL is a visual theatre gem. (Jordan Shaw) Underbelly Cowgate, 0844 545 8252, until 30 Aug, 4.35pm, £10–£11 (£9–£10). Crash ●●●●● Emma Callander’s production, centred on a understated performance by Jamie Michie, maintains ambiguity right to the end. It leaves plenty of food for thought, but refuses the satisfaction of any resolution. (Susan Mansfield) Traverse, 228 1404 until 30 Aug (not 17, 24), times vary, £18 (£13). Eating Seals and Seagulls’ Eggs ●●●●● ‘Ireland’s most hated woman’ of this show’s Fringe programme description is Peig Sayers. Using a rich, fascinating collage of archive images and digital effects as well as helter- skelter rackfuls of vintage props and memories, Mhurchú and Lewis deliver a compelling hour of moving, challenging theatre. (David Kettle) Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, until 30 Aug (not 17, 24), 1.05pm, £7–£10 (£6–£9). Fiction ●●●●● Creators David Rosenberg and Glen Neath certainly know how to sculpt an immersive, dreamy atmosphere with binaural sound technology. But the loose storyline is as rambling and non-sensical as you’d expect an actual dream to be. Perhaps that’s deliberate but, after the first 15

minutes, it does put the audience at risk of slipping into a real slumber, and not just a fictional one. (Yasmin Sulaiman) Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, until 30 Aug (not 17, 24), noon, £11.50–£13.50 (£10.50–£12.50). Fully Committed ●●●●● Becky Mode’s pacey comedy gets a revival, with Marcus Brigstocke as its solo performer. It’s a mile-a-minute role that Brigstocke tackles with aplomb in a slick production but the play itself is a disappointment, the jokes dated and filled with caricatures. (Yasmin Sulaiman) Underbelly Potterrow, 0844 545 8252, until 30 Aug (not 17), 2pm, £12–£15 (£10.50–£13). A Gambler’s Guide to Dying ●●●●● Following the success of last year’s Donald Robertson is Not a Stand- up Comedian writer / performer Gary McNair and director Gareth Nicholls return with a wry and poignant tribute to the life and passing of McNair’s grandfather, Archie Campbell. (Elliot Roberts) Traverse, 228 1404, until 30 Aug (not 17, 24), times vary, £18 (£13). Garden ●●●●● Original, insightful and very funny, this is an hour-long drama that really gets to the heart of what it means to be human. It’s an emotive and considered performance that’s both fun and thought-provoking in equal measure. (Jen Bowden) Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 31 Aug (not 17), 3.30pm, £7.50–£10 (£6.50–£9). The Glorious Damnation of Eddie Small ●●●●● Selling your soul to the devil almost always ends one way (badly): the ensemble work is accomplished, and with a stronger storyline, this could be an exciting new show. But unfortunately, the devil’s in the detail, and the detail is severely lacking. (Rebecca Monks) Bedlam Theatre, 629 0430, until Aug 22 (not 12), 6pm, £10 (£8) Jethro Compton presents Sirenia ●●●●● Alone in a far-flung Cornish lighthouse, lighthouse-keeper Isaac receives garbled warnings of an impending violent storm, only to discover a mysterious, half-dead figure washed up on the rocks below his towering home. It’s a brief show (just 40 mins) for just a dozen or so viewers, but its remarkable intensity, focused acting and direction means it packs a mighty emotional punch. (David Kettle) C nova, 0845 260 1234, until 31 Aug, 7.25pm & 8.25pm, £11.50–£13.50 (£9.50–£11.50). Key Change ●●●●● Newcastle company Open Clasp’s Key Change scrutinises a life of crime using the real voices of inmates. Yet the detached tone, sometimes jocular, means a certain lack of warmth, meaning that an intimacy with the characters is sacrificed. (Lorna Irvine) Northern Stage at Summerhall, 560 1581, until 30 Aug (not 12, 19, 26), 12.30pm, £12 (£10). Lear’s Daughters ●●●●● If ever there was a play about daddy issues, it’s this one. Occasionally the writing My Beautiful Black Dog

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Portrait borders on overly-poetic, but ultimately succeeds in offering a fresh, often funny perspective on a classic play. (Rebecca Monks) C nova, 0845 260 1234, until Aug 14, 8.20pm, £9.50–10.50 (£7.50–£8.50). Lungs ●●●●● Although it’s hard to turn your gaze away from the actors, try to take a moment to look at the crowd’s’ faces as they watch the play. It’s a testament to how well written and well performed Lungs is that each audience member is rapt, with some plot turns drawing audible gasps, and sobs. (Yasmin Sulaiman) Roundabout @ Summerhall, 560 1581, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23–30 Aug, 3.35pm & 10.30pm (24, 26, 28, 30 Aug), £15–£17 (£10–£12). My Beautiful Black Dog ●●●●● It’s rare to find a piece of theatre that cuts so deeply into a topic such as this and still has the audience shimmying out of the door. You’ll feel like you’ve been through a funked-up group therapy session and come out smiling. (Jen Bowden) Underbelly Cowgate, 0844 545 8252, until 16 Aug, 1.55pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8.50–£9.50). An Oak Tree ●●●●● An Oak Tree is far from a cold and clinical experiment. Against our expectations, we find ourselves drawn into the emotional heart of the story, largely thanks to the strength of Crouch’s writing. And we remain there, invested in it, even as he dismantles the floor we believe we are standing on, one board at a time. (Susan Mansfield) Traverse, 228 1404, until 16 Aug, times vary, £20 (£15). Phantasmagoria ●●●●● Set-up is everything in this brief but potent supernatural shocker from HitchHook Theatre, based on a little-known poem by Lewis Carroll. Phantasmagoria is diverting enough, but feels like it needs to offer a fair bit more to make it revelatory. (David Kettle) C nova, 0845 260 1234, until 31 Aug (not 18), times vary, £4.50–£6.50 (£3.50–£5.50). The Pie-Eyed Piper of Hamilton ●●●●● Loosely based on children’s morality tale The Pied Piper Of Hamelin, a drunk’s eye view of austerity culture. The storyline may wander off into an incoherent, Buckfast-fuelled frenzy, but what it lacks in narrative discipline, is made up by nice one-liners, naughty puns and obligatory digs at other traditional pantomime venues (and Wee Jimmy Krankie). (Lorna Irvine) Assembly George Square Studios, 623 3030, until 31 Aug (not 17, 24), 6.40pm, £13–£14. Portrait ●●●●● Although Portrait might be a great showcase for Ofori’s versatile acting talent, her words impress

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just as much. It’s an exciting show from a writer / performer we’ll hopefully hear more from soon. (Yasmin Sulaiman) Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, until 29 Aug (not 17, 24), 1.20pm, £8.50–£11 (£7.50–£10). Roughs (for Radio) ●●●●● Monkfish Theatre’s ‘immersive reading’ of two seldom-performed Beckett radio scripts gently leads you blindfolded into the performance space and that’s about it. Beckett’s two Roughs are undeniably powerful in themselves, but they need a stronger, more searching production than this to bring them convincingly to the stage. (David Kettle) C nova, until 31 Aug, 0845 260 1234, 8.30pm, £9.50–£11.50 (£7.50–£9.50). S.E.N ●●●●● No Prophet Theatre Company boldly face issues affecting teenagers: racial attacks, underage sex, FGM, drugs and teenage pregnancy the basis of just a few of the insults slung between them. However, the ambitious scope leaves some potentially interesting paths unexplored with Aalia’s character in particular not availed the same level of personal revelation as the others. (Rowena McIntosh) Bedlam Theatre, 629 0430, until 30 Aug (not 18), 9.30pm, £9 (£8). The Sunset Five ●●●●● Billing a show as ‘Hot Fuzz meets Ocean Eleven’ sets high expectations for both comedy and plot twists and DugOut Theatre deliver on both accounts. Like the films it aspires to The Sunset Five is a light hearted romp with a talented cast and laughs a plenty. (Rowena McIntosh) Pleasance Dome, until 31 Aug (not 19), 5.40pm, £9–£11 (£8–£10). Swallow ●●●●● The three women, beautifully played by Anita Vettesse, Sharon Duncan-Brewster and Emily Wachter, inhabit a hostile world. Yet, the play remains deeply optimistic about the possibilities of connection between individuals, however damaged. (Susan Mansfield) Traverse, 228 1404, until 30 Aug (not 17, 24), times vary, £20 (£15). Vagabonds: My Phil Lynott Odyssey ●●●●● There’s a lot going on in this energetic, slightly sprawling show from Leviathan’s Goat. Robert Mountford embodies Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott’s swaggering egocentricity magnificently, lining up the Irish guitar hero alongside his own rebellious older brother David as heros to a wide-eyed 11-year-old who only later discovers the ultimate price of a life of free-spirited excess. (David Kettle) ZOO, 662 6892, until 31 Aug (not 19), 9.10pm, £7.50–£10 (£6.50–£9).

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