I had a busy and mostly enjoyable day trotting around to various shows at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. It was a wet and chilly day, so I was pleased that Mrs Shan had forced me to travel with a rain jacket and umbrella!! The shows, in the order seen, were: Beowulf: The Blockbuster, at The Pleasance. This was a touching, beautifully acted piece, in which a dying father tells his son an epci story, in an attempt to help the boy come to terms with his forthcoming loss. One actor plays all the roles. 5/5 Talk About Something You Like. This was next up, in the same room at The Pleasance where Id seen the first show. While most of my choices have been based on strong reviews, this was something I went to on a whim, because the times suited me and it sounded interesting. It was a look into the life of a clinically depressed mind, by a performer who had tried to take his own life a few years ago. (Particularly relevant today, with the sad news of the death of Robin Williams.) I wanted to like the show more that I did, but it was a bit over-written -- instead of just telling a heart-wrenching, eye-opening story in a simple way, the actor/author kept trying to come up with clever, elaborate metaphors and similes. 2/5 Freak at the Assembly George Square was up next, and it was a fun yet moving play about two women who are experiencing problematic love lives. Well acted by its duo of performers, and the story came together neatly as it went on. 4/5 Chef at the Underbelly has been picking up some very strong reviews, but it didnt do a lot for me. Passionately acted, and the story had a lot of promise, but ultimately the show wasnt to my taste. 2/5 Kraken (also in the Underbelly), on the other hand, DID live up to the hype. Modern mime at its finest, very clever but also VERY funny. Not quite up to Dr Brown standards (hes a mime artist of a similar persuasion), but not far off either! 5/5 Finally, at the end of the night, I wandered into Battle Acts, part of the Free Fringe. It was playing in the Three Sisters venue, which I just happened to be walking past. It looked like fun, so I stopped and went it. Very energetic improv show, with a few truly hilarious moments. 3/5 And that was my Tuesday at the Fringe!! I hope my brief reviews prove helpful to anyone who is thinking of going to watch anything. More to come on Wednesday, when Ill be catching a couple of my past Fringe favourites (Adam Riches, and Owen ONeill -- I think Ive seen every show hes done for the last 12 or so years), with some new stuff too, culminating in The Generation Of Z at the end of the night, when I will be battling zombies in George Square! Ill report on my adventures the following day, assuming, of course, that I live to tell the tale...
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 22:34:52 +0000
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