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Post by stevejohnson678 on Aug 7, 2022 7:29:20 GMT
Top three recommendations from the festival so far...
Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder at Roundabout at Summerhall is definitely a must-see. There was a rapturous standing ovation at the end of last night's show. Brontë Barbie and Jodie Jacobs are among the cast of five in this hilarious new murder-mystery musical about two crime podcasters investigating the death of their favourite author.
Can also highly recommend Don't Say Macbeth at ZOO Playground, a very entertaining spoof musical telling the story of Macbeth from the witches' perspective. Think Noises Off meets Forbidden Broadway. This is one of two productions from GOYA Theatre at the Fringe. I can't wait to see the other later this week.
For my third recommendation, Joshua (and Me) at Pleasance Dome is a heartfelt, beautifully told exploration of life growing up with a sibling with autism, by Rachel Hammond.
Other shows I've enjoyed in the first couple of days include Fire Signs at Pleasance Courtyard, Pepperdine's Americana: A Murder Ballad at Assembly Checkpoint, and Same Same Collective's Drop Dead Gorgeous at Assembly George Square Gardens.
I don't think I've ever seen Edinburgh as busy as it was yesterday!
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Post by theatreian on Aug 7, 2022 9:02:57 GMT
Some of the shows I'll be catching include: You are going to be busy! Have a great trip. I fremember the only real time i did the fringe literally running between venues as i hadn't realised how far they were!
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Post by jek on Aug 7, 2022 9:17:04 GMT
My daughter is at her first fringe - both as a student performer and a paid flyer distributor. She was born in Edinburgh but we moved to London while she was still a baby so she has little experience of the place. The level of excitement we are getting from her via phone calls is off the scale. It is so nice to hear that it is back to the atmosphere we experienced in four years of living in the Scottish capital.
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Post by aingidh on Aug 7, 2022 19:12:39 GMT
Some recommendations from me so far
- Unfortunate, Underbelly George Sq (a more slimmed down version of the show from Earl's Court. runs about 1h15m no interval.) - Bad Teacher, Underbelly Bristo Sq - Happy Meal, Traverse - My Son's a Queer, Underbelly George Sq - The Last Return, Traverse (reminded me of dayseating for Wicked back in the day 😉)
I've got a few more things booked, including - Bloody Elle, Traverse - Hot Mess, Greenside Infirmary St
Rather tempted by Choir of Man as well but not sure if it's my thing.
A few recommendations from a friend of mine that I'll try and go to too - Head Girl - Single Lady - Cottage - Notflix - Delivery
Times like this make me very grateful to live within easy traveling distance of Edinburgh with nightbuses running at weekends. makes it very easy to catch as much as possible.
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Aug 9, 2022 8:16:14 GMT
It's been great to see new work from some of my favourite returning companies from previous years of the Fringe in the past couple of days.
The new shows from Ugly Bucket, Spies Like Us and Patch of Blue are all standout productions from the festival so far.
Untapped award winners Ugly Bucket apply their trademark clowning style to the subject of grief, in honour of a lost friend. The show is laugh-out-loud funny but also packs quite the emotional punch. This is stunning new work from an exciting company going from strength to strength.
Physical comedy maestros Spies Like Us dial up the seventies with their telephonic, action-packed caper Speed Dial, while Cassie & the Lights sees Patch of Blue share a warmhearted, story with live music about what makes a family, as they follow three sisters after their mother disappears.
In Edinburgh bright and early this morning for day 5, starting with Little Women by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's MA Musical Theatre graduates.
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Post by aingidh on Aug 9, 2022 20:56:14 GMT
stevejohnson678 Joshua (and me) was a fantastic shout, thanks for that. Caught it this morning based on your recommendation as with me being autistic I am always looking for positive representation in theatre. thought the writer/actor did a fantastic job at telling the story respectfully and from looking at the programme you can tell just how much attention to detail there is when it comes to research and the tone of the story.
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Post by zahidf on Aug 10, 2022 8:23:34 GMT
Saw quite a bit while I was up
I enjoyed the last return, we were promised honey, every word is an Animal, Caste-ing and oedipus electronica
Guy madges 'my son is queen...' was lovely as well.
The Francesca moody stuff at the summerhall was wonderful. Kathy and Stella solved a murder as above, and 'feeling afraid as if something terrible will happen' was hilarious and definitely will be on a bigger stage at some point.
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Aug 11, 2022 8:28:54 GMT
Glad to hear you enjoyed Joshua (and Me), aingidh. 😀 Highlights from the past couple of days for me have included: Fladam's Musical Comedy Hootennany, an hour of silliness, songs and sketches from a very likeable comedy duo (Flo and Adam) at Pleasance EICC. Julia Masli's Choosh, a hilarious one-woman clowning show at Assembly Roxy. Described in one review as "a quintessential Fringe experience", this is exactly the sort of one-of-a-kind production the Fringe is all about. The most responsive and appreciative audience at the festival so far! Sketch quartet Just These Please's sketch show at Gilded Balloon Teviot had me crying with laughter. I'm also glad to have seen I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical at last at Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose. Sending up the tropes of the industry and genre, this is essential viewing for any musical theatre aficionado! And what a showcase for its cast of four triple threats! I started Tuesday morning with Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Little Women. Starring their MA Musical Theatre graduates, this is every bit the equal of the recent Hope Mill / Park Theatre production. A sensational cast. Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group also deserve lots of praise for their production of Curtains at Paradise at Augustines. With an enthusiastic and talented cast who are clearly having a ball, the fun of the story is captured well and the big ensemble numbers deliver on spectacle. Finally for now, another student production generating great word of mouth is Bye Bye Baby by Aireborne Theatre at theSpace on North Bridge. Crackling with sharp dialogue, this is a comedy focused on three friends in a takeaway at the end of a night out. The script and performances are so natural, the characters well drawn, it feels very authentic and is frequently laugh-out-loud funny. One of those unexpected gems at the Fringe that deserves a life beyond the festival.
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Post by hadeswasking on Aug 13, 2022 0:54:01 GMT
We're about halfway through the Fringe now so I wanted to share my favourites I've seen so far (In no particular order):
Mischief Movie Night - Saw both previews of this, top-tier improvisation with a hilarious cast, I've booked another visit later on in the fringe (They can't keep me away, I'll probably be back beforehand)
Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle - Starring 2 members of Mischief, if you haven't seen "Magic Goes Wrong" This is 100% worth the ticket price. If you have and you enjoyed the mind mangler character, this is more of that but some of the bits you will find familiar. Hilarious show and impressive magic too.
The Importance of Being... Earnest? - Nice comedic, fourth-wall-breaking spin on the classic. This may depend on your audience but I had a great time with this one. The cast is charismatic and you'll typically find the participants have their own shows at the fringe (or don't want to be chosen) both scenarios are pleasantly entertaining.'
Runesical - A musical-comedy choose your own adventure story. I'm so excited to see what Gigglemug does next. I didn't know much about Runescape before seeing this and you don't need to! They make it incredibly accessible to everyone. Every song is so well written, please support this show!!!! Planning on revisiting this and hopefully seeing the other available paths.
Making a Murderer: The Musical - I'll be honest I was sceptical about this one, but it's very respectful. You can tell there is talent behind the scenes and you can see it in front of you. The ending does feel very sudden but might be because I was enjoying all the musical numbers so much. If you need something to pass time give this a look.
Unfortunate - People already know about this. It feels very familiar to Twisted, this version is only just over an hour. The pace is very fast and I'll admit it took me about 10-15 minutes to get into it, but once it gets going it'll have you in tears of laughter. Would like the chance to see the longer version one day.
Amateur productions:
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Everyone needs to see this. I saw their first performance this evening and it is absolutely fantastic. Not a weak actor on that stage, all the songs are sung well, comedic timing is spot-on. The actors become these characters. I can't recommend this show enough.
Company (EU Footlights) - Sondheim, who doesn't like a bit of Sondheim? Even with such a limited space, this production was excellent. It's just about done now but I'm sure we'll be hearing more from the actors in this production in the future.
For now, I'm taking a break from the fringe to see other shows down south. I can't wait to return and see a few more.
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Post by Mr Snow on Aug 13, 2022 7:35:02 GMT
Amateur productions: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Everyone needs to see this. I saw their first performance this evening and it is absolutely fantastic. Not a weak actor on that stage, all the songs are sung well, comedic timing is spot-on. The actors become these characters. I can't recommend this show enough. Agree totally. My first time seeing this show and was a really delightful surprise. This is amateur only in the sense that it is done for all the right reasons. , one to avoid. Flesh a musical based on Burke and Hare. This is amateur for the other definition of the word. Amateur spelling: I N E P T
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Post by Mr Snow on Aug 14, 2022 6:26:53 GMT
Puppet Pansori Sugungga is the sort of thing we wouldn't see anywhere else.
Masterful storytelling - one woman skilfully using her body, voice and puppets with great Cello backing. Delightful.
PS if anyone can explain the moral or even the ending of tale of the Turtle and the Rabbit? Puzzling, in the right way.
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Aug 17, 2022 11:06:14 GMT
A few more recommendations from me:
Circa: Humans 2.0 is an outstanding display of acrobatics. Definitely the highlight of this year's circus offerings at the Fringe, though Rouge runs it close with a show that includes plenty of its own spectacular moments mixed with cabaret.
Freddie Hayes: Potatohead is a lot of fun at Pleasance Courtyard, telling the surreal tale of a humble spud who dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian. The same goes for Tiger Lady, also at Pleasance Courtyard, where previous Les Enfants Terribles' Award winners' Dead Rabbits Theatre return with the entertaining true story of Mabel Stark, who set foot in the circus ring with seven tigers. The ensemble storytelling with live music was what I expected but what I didn't see coming was just how funny this show would be!
Foundations at Underbelly Cowgate has shades of Short Circuit where a human and robot form a touching friendship and the boundaries are blurred between whether the robot is a machine or has a mind of its own. Combining puppetry and physical theatre, this show (student writing co-produced with a professional company) was surprisingly moving and beautifully performed.
NewsRevue at the EICC has a lot of material to work with in the current political climate and certainly makes the most of it, while Mischief Movie Night served up a very funny Eighties teen movie, Hull's Angels, in the same theatre.
Girlboss, a sketch show written by and starring two recent graduates from the Cambridge Footlights, was a riot at Gilded Balloon Teviot. A sellout, word-of-mouth hit, Dulcie Whadcock and Ellie Burns are two talents to watch out for, for sure. This send-up of the quest to be the ultimate girlboss was laugh-out-loud funny from the first sketch to the last. The Durham Revue are also delivering a great hour of sketch comedy in Deja Revue at Underbelly Cowgate.
A gem of a Fringe show, HarleQueen, can be found in the understated Wee Coo at Underbelly George Square. It's a one-woman show where New Zealand comedian Abby Howells introduces the audience to a selection of female fools and comics from history, while also sharing stories from her roles in musical theatre growing up (from The Wizard of Oz to Chicago) and progression to a successful stand-up career that came to a shuddering halt. There's some knowingly dodgy ventriloquism thrown into the mix and a real sense of triumph over adversity in Abby being back on the stage after a seven-year break. Abby is such a likeable performer and this was a thoroughly entertaining hour.
Finally, I couldn't have chosen a much better show to bring my first eleven days at the festival to a close than Maimuna Memon's Manic Street Creature at Roundabout Summerhall. Recording an album is used as a clever framing device for a show that follows its central character as she moves to London to complete her new album, then falls for someone who is subsequently diagnosed with manic depression. It's a visceral examination of mental health, especially the impact a loved one's mental health struggles can have on those closest to them, while also providing a platform for some incredible songs and vocals from the creative force behind (who also appeared in) Wildcard's previous Fringe hit Electrolyte. The instant full standing ovation at the end was well deserved.
I'm back home for a few days now which gives some time to reflect on the many shows I've enjoyed in the festival so far. I'm returning to Edinburgh for the final week of the Fringe on Sunday.
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Post by joem on Aug 19, 2022 23:12:02 GMT
Despite all the best efforts of the airlines, the rail companies and the unions I have made it to Edinburgh, one day early in fact. So a fig to them all.
Saw "Nell Gwynne" by Jessica Swale at St Ninian's Episcopal Church. Realised early on that I'd actually seen the original production at the Globe - marvellous performance by Gugu Mbatha-Raw as I recall - but it didn't stop me enjoying this, a competent production of a play with some great lines and tolerable pathos even if some of the history is a bit dodgy. But then history is being rewritten all the time so you might as well do it for laughs. Worth seeing for anyone who didn't see the original Globe or West End productions. If you did, then maybe it's a bit too soon after them to watcha an amdram version.
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Post by joem on Aug 20, 2022 23:54:22 GMT
Today went to "Exodus" by Uma Naja-Radah at the Traverse - political farce/satire. The farce bits are very funny at times, the politics woolly and predictable, let down by implausible ott plotting. Worth the admission for the comedy though.
"Contact" by Sam Eastop, a comedy horror set in a call centre, was a more modest but ultimately more successful piece. A Fawltyesque supervisor struggles to maintain dignity and discipline over his team of kooky operators until they all find themselves embroiled in mystery calls from a prankster... or worse. Quite a hoot at times.
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Post by FairyGodmother on Aug 21, 2022 19:57:42 GMT
By far my favourite show this year (perhaps I've had some dodgy picks though!) has been Jeremy Sassoon's MOJO, a whistlestop tour of one hundred years of Jewish songwriters.
Three piece band (piano, bass — double then electric — and kit) and a very entertaining frontman singing from the piano. Lots of fun facts and plenty of songs you'll know.
Just a shame it wasn't very busy when I went, but I had a brilliant time!
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Post by joem on Aug 22, 2022 0:08:34 GMT
Relaxed but immensely enjoyable Festival day today eve if the sunshine on Leith was patchy.
Ian Mckellen's much-anticipated Hamlet, directed and choreographed by Peter Schaufuss, is a mixture of dance, mime and Mckellen reciting the character's main speeches. Although this leads to some "dumb show", especially in the early part of the production, it is an absorbing and visually very engaging experiment which was hugely appreciated by the audience. Great to see Sir Ian looking in good shape for 83 and on good acting form too. The only caveat is that if you don't know the original, you may struggle to understand the performance. The entry arrangements into Ashton Hall, St Stephen's were pretty vague too. You basically have to queue up downstairs in a big hall before being ushered upstairs.
Next went to an adaptation by The B Collective of "Murder Ballads", Nick Cave's magnificent collection of murder-themed songs, at the labyrinthine Underbelly venue. Linked with some dialogue and extrapolations to make it into a loose narrative this show gives Titus Andronicus a run for its money in terms of deaths on stage. Despite missing one of the four-strong cast, the remaining three gamely managed to rearrange things to put on a rip-roaring performance. Well done!!!
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Post by joem on Aug 22, 2022 22:55:58 GMT
Today's offerings:
"Love, Loss and Chianti" is based on two books by writer and poet Christopher Reid - the first a tale of grief and remembrance for the loss of his wife the second a darkly humorous account of a later lunch date with a former (now married) flame. Robert Bathurst and Rebecca Johnson perform this two-hander with style and sensitivity. Attractive cartoons from Charles Peattie help create the mood and explain some of the narrative.
"The Actress" a new play by Andrew Pearson-Wright on the emergence of actresses in the Restoration era tells the story and struggles of two of the pioneers of female acting who share aspirations if not background.
Albee's perennial "The Zoo Story" gets a decent outing in the unpromising surroundings of Greenside @ Riddles Court - too much noise filtering in from other nearby productions. Tells us nothing new but well done nevertheless.
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Post by hadeswasking on Aug 22, 2022 23:50:06 GMT
Had a day at Roundabout @ Summerhall today! This venue seems to really bring QUALITY to the FRINGE.
Hungry - Absolutely incredible emotional ride, don't go whilst your Hungry though. You'll regret it!
Caste-ing - different from any shows I've seen before. Beat boxing, rap, singing and spoken word. Very powerful and moving. The 3 girls are incredible performers.
Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder - A musical comedy that seems like it has a really bright future. Genuinely hilarious, the mystery is fun, the characters are extremely entertaining! I think most of their performances are sold out but if you can get a ticket DO IT! Gave me a lot of Operation Mincemeat vibes and I can't get enough of it.
If any of you are bored one day I'll garuntee you you'll enjoy the shows the roundabout has to offer. Great theatre in there and I wish I could see more of their offerings, especially 'FEELING AFRAID AS IF SOMETHING TERRIBLE IS GOING TO HAPPEN'. Absolute pure quality!
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Aug 23, 2022 20:03:49 GMT
I remember five years ago sat in a hotel conference room at the Fringe watching a student production, a certain Six the Musical, thinking this could be the next big thing. In the studio space at Paradise at Augustines, history might be repeating itself with the sensational Medea the Musical.
Written by and starring Hayley Canham, one of the original Matilda's in the West End, the musical is billed as "a rock concert in a courtroom", bringing the mythological figure into the present day, making the audience the jury, and adding meta jokes aplenty.
Then there's the score which soars from the first song to the last. Hayley has written one of the best and most complete new scores I've heard in years.
Here's one of the songs featuring a guest appearance from a certain alternate Evan Hansen.
Leading a cast of four, Hayley is a magnetic, yearning presence on stage with gorgeous, haunting vocals. You could hear a pin drop when she was singing.
In a year when by all accounts shows are struggling to get professional reviewers in, it's hard to say if Medea the Musical will get the platform it deserves but it feels like this is a show with huge potential. It's certainly provided one of the most memorable moments of this year's festival for me. It's an outstanding piece of new theatre in every respect.
With Medea reminding me of Six at Sweet Grassmarket, it was perhaps fitting that the show I saw immediately before it was this year's offering from the Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society. Living with Sin sees a girl visited (and receiving life advice) from the Seven Deadly Sins, following the death of her grandmother. Good fun and a show I'd like to see extender beyond its current 50 minute runtime.
Other highlights from the past couple of days include sketch comedy from The Dead Ducks at Just the Tonic at the Caves, Ink & Curtain's taut, deceptive thriller Closure at Pleasance Courtyard, a tale of unrequited love in When We Were Normal at theSpace Triplex, and musical comedy from Flo & Joan at Assembly Roxy. I also thoroughly enjoyed an unusual murder mystery, The Last Words, from Theatre with Teeth (from Exeter University) at theSpace Triplex.
I'm ending today with Ellie MacPherson's Happy Birthday, Mr President at Underbelly Cowgate.
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Post by joem on Aug 23, 2022 21:36:57 GMT
Four today:
The Mistake
A well-written play by Michael Mears (who also acts) showing two real-life contrasting and conflicting perspectives of the first use of atomic weapons - from a Hungarian refugee nuclear scientist (later anti-nuclear weapons activist) and from a young woman who is badly injured and loses her family in the bombing. With a huge supporting cast of characters including Albert Einstein the two actors, aided by the liberal and inventive use of props tell a harrowing tale and debate the morality of killing many people in order to save a lot more.
Artorigus
Some nice language but when Ye Olde Englishe text (even if just written) confronts gender-blind, costume-blind, and legend-blind production the losers are the young cast and the audience who flail about helplessly trying to ground themselves on something and largely failing. If well-known legends are to be rewritten, names and incidents changed and familiar characters act against our expectations - I think we deserve an explanation or a coherent alternative to the known texts. Otherwise it's whimsy.
The Penelopiad
Even younger cast - 16/19 year old students from Muchmuchmore Theatre group in Lancashire - perform an excellent production of Margaret Attwood's femenine(ist) take on events surrounding Homer's Odyssey. Slick, polished full of wonderful lighting and effects and featuring some beautiful singing the girls generally out-act the boys but together they put on an exciting and at times moving performance. Special mention for the actress playing Penelope and for her brilliant chorus of eight maids. They really carry the show.
A Rose By Any Other Name
A one-woman performance by Irish actress Rose Loughlin who is convinced the Earl of Oxford wrote the plays. Mixes excerpts from the plays with her personal life and experiences, and tales of her travels researching her ideas. Disagree with the premise but she puts on a good performance which lasts nearly two hours.
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Post by og on Aug 24, 2022 10:15:22 GMT
Wondering if anyone saw Ivo Van Hove's adaption of A Little Life during its short run at the festival? It's a heck of a novel, with some heavy subject matter, curious how intense it would have been as a 4hr play presented in Dutch with English subtitles.
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Post by greeny11 on Aug 24, 2022 11:53:50 GMT
Seen 7 shows so far:
Unfortunate - 7/10 - Liked the songs, liked the characters, not a fan of all the jokes about mens genitalia- 1 or 2 are OK, but this had loads Showstopper - 10/10 - Brilliant, chaotic fun. We had a musical set on a roundabout in Milton Keynes. Ruth Bratt was particularly funny Kathy and Stella- 9/10 - Best of the scripted shows I’ve seen. Really catchy score with some great voices. Very funny throughout as well Fantastically Great Women - 8/10 - really liked this but the schoolgirl character is so unbelievably annoying. Catchy score - favourite songs were Rosa’s song and the finale. Don’t Say Macbeth - 7.5/10 - very cheap compared to some of the other shows I’ve seen, but I really enjoyed this. Loved all the musical references and one of the witches was very funny. Mischief Movie Night - 10/10 - i knew I’d love this and was right. A very funny period drama featuring a gibbon, a music box singing an S Club 7 megamix and some great action sequences Mindmangler - 8.5/10 - pretty sure this was basically the same sequence as in Magic Goes Wrong but slightly extended. Audience were brilliant for this which made for some great banter and ad libbing by Henry Lewis.
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Post by joem on Aug 25, 2022 0:09:41 GMT
"Out To Lunch", by Hughie Shepherd-Cross and Nathan Brown, is an amusing play about the cut-throat world of restaurants and restaurant reviewers. Thought the lead actor playing the washed-up critic needed to pace himself more, started off too strongly and never varied his attack, but the Jay Rayner and Giles Coren shadow scene was worth the admission price alone. Foodies will love this.
"Apartness" is a multimedia piece on the covid lockdown, consisting of a poignant film featuring Sylvester McCoy and Linda Marlowe, and some live comedy by the third character in the film, a younger woman (supposedly a comedian) who helps them during their ordeal - though she seems to be taking advantage of the old couple. The film is funny and moving, the live comedy is the proverbial lead balloon.
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Post by Mr Snow on Aug 25, 2022 10:45:08 GMT
Seen 7 shows so far: Unfortunate - 7/10 - Liked the songs, liked the characters, not a fan of all the jokes about mens genitalia- 1 or 2 are OK, but this had loads Showstopper - 10/10 - Brilliant, chaotic fun. We had a musical set on a roundabout in Milton Keynes. Ruth Bratt was particularly funny Kathy and Stella- 9/10 - Best of the scripted shows I’ve seen. Really catchy score with some great voices. Very funny throughout as well Fantastically Great Women - 8/10 - really liked this but the schoolgirl character is so unbelievably annoying. Catchy score - favourite songs were Rosa’s song and the finale. Don’t Say Macbeth - 7.5/10 - very cheap compared to some of the other shows I’ve seen, but I really enjoyed this. Loved all the musical references and one of the witches was very funny. Mischief Movie Night - 10/10 - i knew I’d love this and was right. A very funny period drama featuring a gibbon, a music box singing an S Club 7 megamix and some great action sequences Mindmangler - 8.5/10 - pretty sure this was basically the same sequence as in Magic Goes Wrong but slightly extended. Audience were brilliant for this which made for some great banter and ad libbing by Henry Lewis. If the worst you've seen is a 7 then Either You're not trying hard enough Or You need to set yourself us as a agent - I could be your first client!
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Post by greeny11 on Aug 25, 2022 12:39:35 GMT
I deliberately booked things I thought I'd like - it's my first Fringe, so wanted to have a good first experience of it. I avoided anything that had bad reviews, or just didn't appeal to me! That said, what is 7/10 for me would probably be more like a 5/10 for others.
Two more to add to the list are Rob Madge's show, which was fantastic; and Choir of Man, which was pure joy.
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Post by firefingers on Aug 25, 2022 20:58:24 GMT
My recommendations are:
Land: A New Scottish Musical. From the sane mind as Islander from 2019 that went onto run in Southwark. Fabulous music, intimate and personal story, deserves another life.
Police Cops: The Musical. Hilarious 80s rock musical silliness.
Comedy wise, Alistair Beckett King, Eleanor Morton, The Delightful Sausage, and (possibly a bit big for fringe these days) Nish Kumar were fabulous.
Really enjoyed Grace Petrie who I've loved as a folk singer for years but has made her exquisite fringe debut doing a mix of spoken word and stand up.
And a special shout out to Kites which although not the best show ever it deserved a far more sizeable audience than the four of us who attended today. They performed this two hander with confidence despite the small house number and I applaud them for that.
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Post by joem on Aug 25, 2022 22:01:23 GMT
"Giant Killers" is a wonderful play about football and class, documenting the FA Cup run of Darwen FC, a team of working-class mill-workers, and the disgraceful way in which the establishment - football was controlled by wealthy amateurs from the top public schools at the time - used every dirty trick in the book to try and prevent them from success. Another football play for the canon.
"My Leonard Cohen" is really more of a tribute than a theatrical performance. If you love Cohen, as I did and do, you'll be all right but it is not a piece of theatre.
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Aug 26, 2022 8:19:56 GMT
greeny11 We were at the same performance of Showstoppers the other night! I saw Mind Mangler on Wednesday evening and enjoyed it so much more than the segments in the tour of Magic Goes Wrong. I thought they'd refined the concept and character well. Henry Lewis is a master of audience interaction and Jonathan Sayer's cameos were very funny. It was a very enthusiastic audience who gave a standing ovation at the end. You can feel the love for Mischief in the room at every show they put on. firefingers I saw Police Cops last night on the strength of word of mouth. Audience behaviour was not so good (which stands out at the Fringe where it's usually excellent) but the show itself is a riot! They must have one of the hardest working casts at the Fringe. I'm seeing Land: A Scottish Musical this afternoon which I'm rather excited about. Other highlights from the past couple of days include "The Importance of Being ...Earnest?" at Pleasance Courtyard, a show which takes audience participation to a whole new level, as the actor playing Earnest fails to show and someone from the audience then has to take on the role! As more cast members become incapacitated for various reasons, more and more audience members are called into the fray! I imagine it's a quite different viewing experience each day depending on who is selected (and generally the cast seemed to check each time that the person chosen was okay going up on stage) but Wednesday's performance was very entertaining. I also really enjoyed Notflix, an improvised musical, where we were treated to a musical loosely inspired by Kill Bill. I thought the original musical numbers were incredibly impressive. If you're a fan of the Showstoppers, the Notflix troupe are well worth checking out at Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose for more musical comedy. One of my favourite shows from the past couple of days is a student production. LS6 Theatre, a student theatre company from Leeds, have brought two shows to the Fringe this year, the second of which, Freedam, is now playing at theSpace on North Bridge. For pure escapism, this was hard to beat. A whimsical and surreal 50 minutes of fun, silliness and laughter! Expect cheesy puns galore, karaoke, wigs and funny characterisations. The cast looked to be having a blast and their enthusiasm was infectious. I guess you could say Freedam is the brie's knees! By Fringe standards, Edinburgh does seem to have been relatively quiet in the past day or two. After a very busy first week, there does seem to have been a bit of a fall in visitor and audience numbers now the Scottish school holidays have finished, but hopefully a very busy last weekend is to come.
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Post by joem on Aug 26, 2022 23:25:42 GMT
In "No Time For Strangers", Godot meets Kafka on a sleepy railway platform. Starts off well with the two actresses playing clown/straight part to god effect and rightly getting plenty of laughs. Does meander rather afterwards but was still worth the visit.
It finally happened. Audience was outnumbered (4-3) by performers for Hedda, Nora, Julie and me. An interesting premise to bring together heroines from Ibsen (2), Strindberg and Chekhov but needs to have much stronger focus to make it work dramatically.
Final event of the festival for me, not theatre but stand-up: if you like puns - good and bad ones, I can't resist them - then Richard Pulsford is your man. Really funny, hard-working guy.
Roll on 2023.
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