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Fringe 2006 Reviews (64)
A Grimm Tale
Written and Directed by Alastair Laverty
First in Last Out Company
The Bongo Club
****
A Grimm Tale is the occasionally disturbing and often hilarious
story of a group of largely errant schoolchildren, sent to a "brat
camp" under the supervision of two sinister brothers. As one by
one they break the rules and escape to the forest, they find themselves
the victims of familiar and yet fitting calamities.
Alastair Laverty's play manages to work on a variety of different levels:
first and foremost; it is an enthusiastic exploration of fairytales
in their original and wholehearted sadistic glory. In this sense it's
both refreshing and familiar, whilst the inclusion of full song and
dance numbers only adds to the all round fun, making it enjoyable on
the more simple levels.
The attractive young cast throw themselves wholeheartedly into the
action, through the physical aspects of the production, forming themselves
the sets and props as well as through the choreographed dancing and
cavorting. Neatly contrasted with the cool hardness of the Brothers,
who bookend the action with an eerie candour.
Graeme Strachan
Chalk Circle
Directed by Jeff Bengford
Sweet ECA
****
The story is a retelling of the ancient parable of the child with two
mothers. Originally set in rural China, the tale has been relocated
to a timeless setting, and realised in a world made from draped swathes
of silk and the leaning bodies of the cast members.
The performance is highly accomplished and deftly carried off by the
legion assortment of actors, singers and dancers.
With an original production such as this, there is usually little expectation
of highly complex action, however the prowess shown by all hands is
of a level of professionalism far beyond that suggested by their ages
and the High School origins of the company.
The play also has another key factor to its credit, a sense of general
good feeling and a natural exuberance that made this a genuine pleasure
to watch.
Graeme Strachan
A'Huntin'
Revised Edition Theatre
Greyfriars Kirk House
I was confused at first, when the ten strong cast of A'Huntin'
began to move around onstage, speaking in abstracted monologues and
snippets of conversations. It became clear, eventually, that the entire
production is supposed to be the twisted worldview of a disturbed and
impaired teenager. This was only clear once he had returned to continue
his story of abuse and confused love, which was the only linear narrative
of the work.
The production was a cluttered but somehow measured affair, with the
cacophonic motions of its cast choreographed across the stage constantly
in chittering sound bites.
The main trouble with the play was that ultimately the overall effect
was unfulfilling, the long periods of random nonsense were too jarring
with the slightly manipulative story. Even despite the cast's abilities,
the piece is style over substance at every turn.
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