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The
Edinburgh Fringe
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Fringe 2009 Reviews (78)6.0: How Heap And Pebble Took
On The World And Won With the successes of their show 21:31 last year, Dancing Brick return with what could be described as 'the difficult second album'. Two performers present the ice dancing duo Heap and Pebble and the story of how their avant garde skating took the world by storm. Pushing the boundaries of ice dancing these two ever-smilling actors essentially deliver a manifesto for performance art taking risks. Here Dancing Brick take the risk of presenting ice-skating on a wooden floor in a dry theatre. Does it work? While there is no denying their endearing charm and gentle humour, this show asks for more than it can deliver. Like watching the world class skaters, there is opportunity to applaud after every mimicked skating move (even technically referred to as a 'twizzle') which, unlike the world class skaters, doesn't merit this amount of applause. Heap and Pebble have a great amount of fun pulling out members of the audience to help them with their show, much to the other specators' enjoyment, and undoubtedly present an entertaining and imaginative show, but this won't be the most innovative piece you see at the Fringe this year. Sacha Voit A Grave Situation There's a war on and the Wilberforce lads have been called up. Hardly for their ingenuity and bravery, but more for their shoveling abilities and their good old Huddersfield honesty. What with Chippy's girl back home, an egg that needs frying and the Bosch closing in on all sides these five grave-digging brothers have a lot on their hands - not to mention an over-due libary book. With a stunning cast, fantastic ensemble work and perfect comic timing, Young Pleasance give a stand-out show. Brilliantly directed and ambitiously conceived, this talented youth theatre do it better than some of the professionals, creating a witty, irreverant, ridiculous but brilliant show. Be warned, if you do have a tight schedule, it does run over the advertised hour, but it's worth every minute of it, and you'll soon be booking your tickets to see what they do next year, as they only get better and better. Sacha Voit The Overcoat Inspired by Gogol's The Overcoat, this haunting tale presents love and greed as one man struggles to achieve the girl he desires. To do this he needs to achieve the social standing that others in his competitive office are all striving for, and he's on the brink of selling his soul to get it. Through incredible physical theatre, stunning imagery and powerful music this international company create an exceptional show of visual impact. With white faces and 1930s costumes, an unforgettable set and brilliant movement choreography, this is a phenomenally crafted show. However, whilst the surface meaning is easy to follow, the detail of the story is lost at times and with all of the cast speaking different languages, we only wish we knew what they were saying. (First time visitors to The Pleasance's Grand venue, please note: it's not well sign posted, so arrive early or miss a significant part of the beginning of the show!) Sacha Voit |
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