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Fringe 2009 Reviews (103)
Hard-Hearted Hannah and other
stories
Cartoon de Salvo
Theatre Workshop
****
As part of the Arts Council Showcase, Cartoon de Salvo present their
masterful 'long form' improvisation, contructing an entirely new improvised
show every night. The audience provide the title, the cast of three
do all the rest, including some great live music, played out on everything
from guitars to washboards to earthenware cider jugs. The improvisational
talents of the cast are remarkable but their ability to construct a
fully-formed story within the space of an hour is awesome. If impro
and theatre games are your thing, this is a company worth watching.
Allison Vale
Little Johnny's Big Gay Musical
By Johnny McKnight
Pleasance Dome
****
When you file into a theatre to the cool sounds of keyboards, bass
and drums live on stage, a set a-glow with all the glitz of old-time
Broadway and the name 'Johnny' spelled out in lights in front of you,
you already sense you're in for a treat. Throw in an endearing lead
man with some memorable numbers (a particluar favourite: "I'm a
Young Boy with a Left Breast"), and the deal is done!
McKnight is a great story-teller with a great voice and he has show-stealing
support from lead vocalist Natalie Toyne.
Little Johnny's Big Gay Musical may be largely without plot
or any real character development but this doesn't stop it from being
a hugely entertaining night out.
Allison Vale
Guru Guru
Rotozaza
Forest Fringe
***
After the international success of Etiquette last year, Rotozaza
return to Edinburgh as part of the Arts Council Showcase and the acclaimed
Forest Fringe free festival. Guru Guru is a fascinating experiment
in audio-visual mind control. An audience of five are led into a clean
white space, given a headset each and asked to sit around a TV screen.
The voices onscreen and, unnervingly, in your head feed you instructions
and force you out of your comfort zone. This piece has less of the magic
of Etiquette, but Guru Guru is a memorable experience
well worth having.
Allison Vale
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