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Fringe 2010 Reviews (34)
The Gay Geese
By Anna Forsyth
Up In The Gods
C central.
**
Matt comes out to Sam, Sam is disgusted, but it turns out Sam has some skeletons in his closet too, that's about it. This short coming out play is well acted by its two leads Euan Forsyth as Matt and Ross Harvey as Sam, but there is so little content to hold the attention.
While the acting isn't at fault, what the play needs is some more imaginative direction. Some of the scenes do drag out to due to the director's penchant for long pauses. The actors also pulled off a few good one-liners but mostly the script was completely lacking in comedy which would have added a little more texture to the piece.
Considering this was written in the 21st century and even has the line "This is the 21st century", why couldn't this have been a more interesting look at coming out, not the same dull old story that's been trotted out as something vaguely controversial for the last few decades.
Seth Ewin
Azincourt
By Jeremy James Taylor with music by David Nield
Willington Preparatory School
The Edinburgh Academy.
**(*)
Willington Preparatory School must be one of the youngest troupes of performers at the Fringe. In this new musical written and directed by Jeremy James Taylor (previously Director of the National Youth Music Theatre) they valiantly tackle the story of one of history’s greatest military victories.
It is told from the perspective of a group of young lackeys who haul the King’s baggage from Harfleur to Azincourt. The concept is intriguing, exploring these lad’s lives as they prepare for battle against the French. We experience their fears, their worries about staying alive and their desire to see England again. Also in attendance were the boys from the Chapel Royal who Henry required to sing Mass four times a day and also sang throughout the battle itself.
The cast are skilfully directed and performed well as an ensemble using a wagon to create a series of tableaux and they created some diverse characters. Neild’s uninspiring music reflects the character of the medieval period performed by a small band under the direction of Jonathan P Eyre.
This was a plucky production from such young players.
Robin Strapp
The Virtuous Burglar
By Dario Fo, Translated by Joseph Farrell
Assembly Rooms.
****
A review is hardly necessary.
The Virtuous Burglar is a 50 minute farce by Dario Fo that is extremely funny.
A burglar and his wife get embroiled in more than they bargain for. Their unwitting hosts are both “playing away” with yet another husband and wife pairing, leading to the expected comic consequences, which under Vivian Munn’s direction deliver.
If you fancy a nice, light afternoon entertainment, you could do a lot worse.
Philip Fisher
A Solitary Choice
By Sheila Duncan
Theatre Tours International
Assembly Rooms.
****
It comes as no surprise to learn that this monologue has been doing the rounds for a decade. Tamara Lee’s performance under the direction of Michael Allen has achieved the epitome of slickness.
Ruth is a wife and mother, as well as working in an Adelaide bank, where she is trying out a minor career change. Her husband is a perennial student and, it seems, a bit of a bore.
She spices up life with a Bolivian exile, who may be older but offers thrills that dear husband Christopher no longer does. He in turn, is being unfaithful with a real estate agent, though possibly more commercially than sexually.
The play gets an interesting twist when Ruth becomes pregnant and is practically haunted by her unborn, Latino daughter.
This is the stepping off point for some interesting analysis of moral dilemmas, which threaten the family and the protagonist’s happiness.
Philip Fisher
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