|
Fringe 2008 Reviews (47)
Our Country's Good
Rattlesnake! Theatre Company
C
***
In a colony of convicts and their army officer overlords, the governor
decides that putting on a play might bring some 'civilisation' to the
prisoners. Some oppose the play and the rehearsals are beset by problems
with the criminals having to rehearse in chains and some running away.
However the organisers believe in the power of theatre to 'change the
nature of our little community' and the show must go on.
Unfortunately this production struggled on the day I saw it as one
of the actors was taken ill during the performance and the assistant
director had to step in and read his lines. This did not help the confidence
of the actors in front of a small audience and on their first performance.
Despite some under-direction in places and a lack of balance between
tragedy and comic interjections at times, this production has potential
to pick up.
Cecily Boys
The Vanishing Point
The Carpetbag Brigade
Sweet ECA
****(*)
On a rainy Saturday evening, the Carpetbag Brigade's stilt walking
acrobats had to move out of the sodden courtyard into a large room in
Edinburgh College of Art. Sitting along one wall in a plain, high-ceilinged
room, the audience was able to witness the action at very close range
and it was amazing. Towering high above us, but so very close, illuminated
only by the daylight shining through the windows, these beautiful insect-like
creatures stalked the space like Titans. They swished and hissed and
licked and sniffed. They fought and mated and prowled for food with
acrobatic stunts.
The Carpetbag Brigade is a pan-American theatre company with performers
from the US, Canada and Mexico. Based in San Francisco, they witnessed
fires devastating whole forests and wondered what happened to the creatures
for which the woodlands are a natural habitat. And that was the inspiration
for this show. It is timely as more and more of our natural resources
fall prey to human indifference. The Vanishing Point is a show
which fills one full of wonder, and reminds us that everything on the
planet is interconnected. In the face of Nature, we're merely puny but
arrogant wee souls.
Fabulous acrobatic skills indoors or out!
Jackie Fletcher
The Messiah
Bradfield College
Spotlites @ The Merchants' Hall
***
Berkoff's thought provoking play asks whether Jesus was divine or,
in fact, the original spin doctor who knew how to pull a publicity stunt
when he saw one. Some impressive performances of religious fervour from
the young actors (most notably Jesus, Mary and the devil) make this
an engaging piece. Where it lacks Berkoff's intention to infect doubt
and questioning in the minds of the audience, it certainly makes up
for it in heartfelt belief. A good performance to see from some youngsters
with a lot of potential.
Cecily Boys
Next
page - - - Index
|
