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Fringe 2011 Reviews (53)
Bashir Lazhar
By Evelyne de la Cheneliere; English translation by Morwyn Brebner
Wishbone Theatre
Assembly George Square
****
This is a moving and sensitive play about an Algerian immigrant who
moves to Canada and finds a job as a substitute teacher to grade six,
following the traumatic suicide of the class's female teacher ironically
named Madame La Chance.
The set is an intriguing roller blackboard filling the back and floor
of the stage on which Bashir constantly writes in chalk as well as on
his own clothes and the desks and chairs.
It is a story about the rigours of being a substitute teacher, building
relationships with the pupils and the demonic principal who does not
approve of his unorthodox teaching methods.
Its narrative explores loss, innocence and intolerance. There is a
deep sense of personal bereavement when his family are betrayed whilst
in Paris and perish in a fire.
His own application for political asylum is finally refused which adds
to this play's poignancy.
Michael Peng is a consummate actor and storyteller. He has the ability
to keep the audience enthralled by his sterling performance that was
of the very highest standard.
Kimberley McLeod gave worthy support as the young schoolgirl.
This is certainly one show that you should not miss.
Robin Strapp
Cabaret Whore: More! More!
More!
Sarah-Louise Young
Seabright Productions
Underbelly
****
Sarah-Louise Young moves from two highly successful years on the Free
Fringe to the Underbelly in her latest one-woman cabaret show and it's
a sparkling performance as is the dress she wears in her first persona
as Bernie St Claire. She sings with experience of the nightclub circuit,
all sultry and sexy yet washed up.
The next Diva Young plays is Karsha the Eastern European, seductively
dressed in a purple cat suit and suitably feline in her delivery. She
tells the packed audience, "I came to work in the sex industry
but no job so I work in a primary school."
A new character is Baby Doll and her Doll, child star of the cult TV
hit Rainbow Creek, treads the fine line between the innocent
joys of childhood and the dark comedy of a small girl who refuses to
grow up.
Her final Diva is the tortured French chanteuse La Poule Plombée,
complete with kitchen knife and suffering from clinical depression.
All Young's characters are delivered with style and a certain savoire-faire.
She is highly entertaining with a talent that simply oozes with confidence.
This is a captivating hour of cabaret at its very best.
Robin Strapp
The Girl With The Iron Claws
The Wrong Crowd
Underbelly
*****
With the simplicity of a fairy tale, the wit of a moral message and
a whole heap of charm; The Wrong Crowd have managed to knock the ball
clean out of the park with their semi-musical play The Girl With
The Iron Claws. Based around the Norse myth 'The White Bear King'
this is the story of a young princess who becomes enraptured with a
golden band belonging to a giant white bear. The Bear naturally is a
cursed prince, and the play is the tale of the princess' love for him
and the trials she must venture through in order to save him from marriage
to the hideous Troll Queen and back to his human form.
The cast are a talented bunch, with a deft ability for song, puppetry
and that rarest of things, a giddy enthusiasm for what they are doing
that practically pours from the stage. From the oversized Troll Queen
head and hands which threaten the heroes, to the comic puppetry of the
threee mystical children and the Princess' snooty sister, the fun is
there for the entire family to enjoy. In fact this is a show that will
be very welcome to return to the Fringe.
Graeme Strachan
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