Festival Radio Project News and Reviews

REVIEW: Quest

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:07:37 +0200

The show we attended was 'The Quest, performed by University of Warwick Musical Theatre.

This show proved to have some pleasantly suprising elements. This theatrical musical was performed in a small lecture theatre venue in Edinburgh University buildings.

The story ran as follows: in a magical kingdom inhabited by humans and elves there is trouble brewing, the king of the humans and the king of the elves must reconcile their differences before the kingdom is destroyed. To prevent this destruction the king must send his three daughters away which is where the show gets it's name.

Supporting the plot, dancing and acting of the show was a very competent five piece band who shared a stage with the cast. They played an interesting hybrid of rock and classical music which had heavy echoes of Disney musicals and pantomime. The small but engaged audience consisted of adults and twenty-something year old students who reacted with delight to the many gags and catchy songs in the performance.

The Quest would definitely appeal to adults wanting to take their kids to a light-hearted but well-assembled piece of musical theatre. As for our opinion of the show, we probably wouldn't be looking for a repeat performance as it's duration was a bit lengthy and the delivery would definitely appeal more to kids.

The show runs from August the 7th to August the 16th at the Musical Theatre venue in George Sq.

REVIEW: Flhip Flhop

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:56:30 +0200

The show we picked for our review was 'Flhip Flhop: Everything happens on the break' performed by the Rannell Theatre Company. The reason for choosing this show was it seemed like an unusual and possibly exciting production.

The best way to describe the show would be that it is a kinetically-charged mix of psychical comedy, musical trickery and dance. The Zoo is an old- style school building in which the audience was seated in a hall of the building on temporary seating . Basing the performance in such ad hoc surroundings seemed to benefit the show and the pair who performed it used this to build a rapport.

The plot was simple: two bored painter decorators indulging in goofy antics, rifling through their bosses record collection and having a not-so-subtle dig at each other. Their use of everyday items and musical gadgetry was inventive and entertaining.

It was a broad selection of ages, from children to the more mature who attended this show. Although initially cautious the audience really warmed to the show and reacted with delight to the duo's tomfoolery. We would recommend this show for people of any age who wanted to see a fun, energy-filled show and particularly fans of new psychical theatre.

This production will be running at The Zoo Southside Venue from August the 9th to August the 31st.

REVIEW: Home

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:42:37 +0200

It is the second year at the Fringe for Theatre Oikos. This year's offering is a moving and engaging piece looking at the concept of home. What makes a home and how people build new lives when they move away from the place they call home. HOME follows the story of one particular immigrant in Britain today and draws comparisons with immigrants from the past.

The story of HOME is told through narrative and physical theatre. The company have created a very aesthetically pleasing performance set to music, which invokes emotion in the audience.

As I watched the performance I thought about my own home. Being an English immigrant in Scotland I felt that the performance spoke to me about the nature of immigration and it acknowledged the outsider in all of us.

This is an interesting, thought provoking piece that tells a story of an issue that is perhaps more relevant today than it has ever been. In a world where migration is a part of our global society, most people have or will experience what it is like to live away from home and to establish a home for themselves. Ultimately is there any place like home? Is home where the heart is? What does home mean to you? Why not see the show and let Theatre Oikos explore HOME with you.

REVIEW: TwentySomething

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:40:39 +0200

'TwentySomething an excellent new comedy written, directed and performed by six very talented actors who all glowed throughout the performance.

Performed in a dingy nightclub The Hive I was very surprised by the overall feel I had, it was not at all how I expected to feel. The play set in a bar where a meeting of 6 former friends took place, all characters were struggling with life in general and just wanted to forget their friends and carry on with their own lives, the characters were all completely different with all conforming to stereotypes from the toff to the hippy to the geek and to the lesbian. All throughout I couldnt stop thinking why the company had not charged for the tickets because I can guarantee that people would definitely pay for this fresh new show.

The cast were very strong and enthusiastic and I particularly liked the character of Michael who was a gay hairdresser, he was hilarious and reminds me of a very close friend of mine who weirdly enough is called Michael.

I really enjoyed this piece and look forward to seeing them in the future! A definite 5 stars from me. Well done!

REVIEW: Cool Cutz

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:40:12 +0200

Cool Cutz was an outstanding production by the Lincoln company. This is more for a younger audience, this production is sure to have you rolling off your seats with laugher. The soundtrack was a very good variety of songs. All four characters on stage were naturally gifted and realistic to their profession. I really enjoyed this performance and definitely recommend it to others.

REVIEW: Fat Club - The Musical

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:33:56 +0200

Dawn French meets Broadway. Fat Club the funniest new comedy on the block. Take 5 fatties struggling with their bulging weight, theyve all tried every diet and have failed. Its time to join Fat Club.

Bonnie, the over the top team leader, is on a mission to beat fat, she fears fat. This musical comedy from the start will have you gasping for air due to the laughter. Each song, all original and hilarious, will be sure to leave you hungry for more.

A must see, a great giggle in a great location.

REVIEW: RealiTV

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:31:35 +0200

RealiTV gone too far? Does the worlds obsession with reality TV need to stop right now? This clever piece of theatre shows Big Brother contestants competing, not for money but for a life supply of medical treatment! Medical TreatmentI hear you say. Is this the sort of viewing we all have to look forward to?

3 contestants all with individual problems- kidney disease, infertility and AIDS compete to win treatment by completing a number of tasks for EVIL Big Brother, also the presenter known as Fifi La Fox. Trickery, Lies and Embarrassment are all the measures which this make believe show tries to inflict on the remaining contestants, all in aim of rocketing viewing figures and the big bonus for its Davina McColl nemesis.

The story also reflects on the powerful message, which the actors are trying to communicate. Although a serious production, there are many moments of humour, which creates a feeling of ease throughout the theatre, particularly at the nasty arguments the characters have under the pressure of living in the house. This play is not real life, but will audiences in the future find reality shows like Realitv entertaining?

Walking out of the theatre the audience leaves with a number of questions in their minds, creating reactions and leaving effects on the viewer, something WACtheatre company certainly achieves with Realitv. Certainly worth a look!

REVIEW: Don Carlos

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:25:49 +0200

Positioned in an empty hotel room (literally), this classic piece of theatre by Schiller featured a student cast telling the story of Don Carlos who betrays his father King Phillip of Spain by lusting secretly for Queen Elizabeth, the wife of his father.

With complex language it was clear that the young cast understood the concepts of this challenging piece of theatre. One particular moment to remember was the sound of the fire alarm lasting around five minutes, fortunately the cast carried on unfased by this event (an event which in my opinion was the most interesting part of the show).

Unfortunately, this play failed to engage me and with such complex dialogue I feel that the actors failed to show much expression and to use a range of tones, which could have made it easier to comprehend for those who are less intellectual.

With modern costumes and the use of mobile phones, I failed to see the link between the modern visual and the old language.

Well done to the cast who tried their best with such a difficult piece. Definitely for those who feel entertained by bland, dictionary language with little emotion or direction.

REVIEW: Cafe Amour

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:33:28 +0200

The show was about a woman who worked in a café and it was all about her past lovers and a man who she has just met. The show was hard to understand and got really boring with just the one actor. There was good acting but it was to confusing with the two voices played by one person. There was a lot of space on the stage that was not used and the movement got really boring. The costumes were very poor it did not look like they put any work into the costumes. The music and sound was different but well done. The show was putting off with the sound and music person how she was on stage and singing on stage if she was behind the curtain it would have been better and not so annoying. The show was also late starting. Overall I did not thing this show was very boring and I would not go see it again.

REVIEW: Baba Yaga Bony Legs

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:28:32 +0200

3BUGS Fringe Theatre presents a Russian folktale about a witch with iron teeth, a beautiful young girl, her evil stepmother and a scary forest, all told in the dark. Sounds intriguing? Well, the reality was so much more than I had imagined. This creative piece is a feast for all five senses.

Before entering the space the audience were given brown bread and gooseberry jam, which we were told was All part of the experience, and I was reminded of Alice In Wonderland. After eating the bread we were led two by two into the space by torchlight and like Alice through the looking glass our journey had begun.

The performance was thrilling. The audience were surrounded by noises and feelings. There was a complete breakdown of the boundaries between the performers and the audience, as they touched us, blew on us, whispered in our ears and shouted in our faces. They enveloped us in things that we could touch, splashed us, and wafted strange and wonderful smells all around us. There were moments when the performers turned on their torches and once again we could see. In these moments the actors created powerful physical images and then again we were plunged back into the darkness.

The company have succeeded in creating an awesome piece of theatre that takes the audience on a very unexpected journey. It made me feel excited and nervous. I laughed and felt scared. All my senses heightened, I was on the edge of my seat and loving it!

REVIEW: Losing Susan

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:20:19 +0200

Z Theatre Company are performing Losing Susan on from the 10th to the 20th of august at space at the royal collage of surgeons at one o'clock.

Imagine a member of your family like your mum or your dad becomes forgetful and starts to not remember who you are. Losing Susan explores the effect of Alzheimers on a family.

It tells the story about a mum of three and the impact on her children. It shows just how much can change in such a little space of time. Starting from forgetting how many to put in her husbands tea to not recognising her eldest face In a photo album the story follows the hard decisions Susans family have to make like putting her in to a home, but in a way it brings the family together.

The acting was excellent, a lot went into the acting and thats what made the show so believable and come to life. The costumes were just perfect for the characters ,the chorus was useful to have and worked well.

It was clear that everyone in the show put a lot of effort into it and it was easy to understand what it would be like having someone with that illness in your life. The show helped me understand more about Alzheimer's.

Overall the performance was superb. Losing Susan was brilliantly performed and I would recommend it.

REVIEW: And Then He Said...

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:13:51 +0200

'And Then He Said' an awful lot of boring, poorly acted rubbish.
It is not often that you can say that the programme for a show is more interesting than the performance itself. Although black and white it has pictures of the cast rehearsing, a synopsis of each of the scenes and biographies of the cast, producer and director. If it hadnt been so dark it would have come in handy as reading material to pass the time.

The idea behind the performance was to take a 'sideways look at the brief encounters we have every day'. With no script the actors improvise a series of chance meetings in various settings. The concept is an interesting one, it was a shame that the cast did not deliver, and it felt more I was watching an amateur dramatics group mid workshop.

There were a few humorous moments within the show, mainly due to the appearance of Lucien a flamboyantly dressed gay man selling 'Titillating Tit Ticklers' and on reflection that was probably the funniest thing he said, and Im guessing that wasnt improvised.

So if you are looking for a place to catch a nap after lunch then this could be the show for you. If youre in search of thrilling theatre and inspirational art then keep looking.

REVIEW: Vision

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:26:30 +0200

'I saw a light a pale blue light'

If your are confused by this then you know the feeling after watching this musical. After a very energetic start you start to wonder whether you have inadvertently stumbled into the wrong show. The description in the fringe program bares no resemblance to the show what so ever. While it promises '17 rock and pop songs as, Punks Goths and Chavs.' the only thing that resembles this slightly is the priest. That dressed as a punk leaves the audience puzzled what the relevance is to the priests character.

The performers were very good and highly talented but seem to have been let down by poor direction. Having an orcastra on stage as well as too many performers made the stage seem small and cramped. The poor use of stage, which lead to the performers during dance numbers banging into each other, took away the ability that the performers clearly had. If this show had been staged at a bigger venue then it would have worked and wowed audience with the casts true potential. Overall, the shows true potential was not reached due to the poor direction. This show gets two stars based solely on the performance of the cast.

REVIEW: Lucky Dip

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:31:17 +0200

A fresh new comedy, which looks at a competitive couple who find love in the strangest place. THE BATH! The cast of 3 create a splash - with their eccentric characters owning the stage.

This fast and raunchy production will be sure to have you rolling off your seats with laughter, not to mention the pumping 80s soundtrack, which complemented the overall production. A must see, well worth the time.

A 4 star production.

REVIEW: Crave

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:28:55 +0200

Royal Holloway Theatre presents Sarah Kanes Crave, this is performed at C.soco on Chambers street. A very slow production that involved four actors all of whom were strong and enthusiastic, all actors showed great potential however the production as a whole lacked a clear knowledge of how to keep an audience entertained.

From my understanding the play was set in a diner this was made crystal clear by the set overall the only part for me that I truly interpreted. With help from the interesting flyer I understood that the characters involved were faced and challenged by there turbulent past and tormented future however, without the help from this flyer I would have been lost literally. The production being that of a poetic nature made it extremely hard to follow throughout. This style was uninteresting and very bland with no scene changes or any movement between the characters.

By the end of this 1hr 15minute production I felt relieved that it was finally all over. The play as a whole was hard hitting and very depressing due to the actors style of dialogue, but without being fully able to grasp the concept of the story I was unable to enjoy it fully as I am often known to enjoy a great drama.

Overall I would rate Crave directed by Tasmin Bell 2 stars only because the set was powerful and the actors gave it their all.

REVIEW: Myriad

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:21:47 +0200

Collisions Dance Company, a relatively new group which formed early in 2008 by a very young talented man David Beer. Performed at The Zoo, the Pleasance, and this venue although slightly small was just perfect for this cast of dancers.

Myriad the title of this production meaning a number of different elements, this title could not have been suited more. The performance was made up of ballet and modern contemporary that told the story of the struggle for escapism. The cast of three dancers performed without stopping for fifty minutes, which amazed me, as all throughout the performers were strong, enthusiastic and utterly fantastic.

As an ex-dancer myself, I often find it hard to watch companys perform so well as I am known to get a little jealous as I no longer dance myself but with this performance I felt that it was a privilege to be watching it.

All three dancers were unique in their style but that is definitely what made the whole thing special. All were very dedicated and had put a lot of time and effort into the show, with one of the girls telling me later that she had cancelled her holiday in the sun to come and spend three and a half weeks in the not so sunny Scotland!!!

If you are studying dance or are interested in dance at all you would be silly to miss this inspirational performance. For me it is without doubt 5 stars.

REVIEW: Sa-choom

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:55:43 +0200

As part of the Festival Radio Project we went along to see the show called "Sa-choom". It was a very energetic dance musical from Korea. The venue was very nice inside and comfortable and spacious.

The show was based on a story of 3 friends coming of age. Some parts of the show were very funny and a lot of different dance acts were performed. It was a silent show that was played out through mime, music and dance. The audience was made up of young adults and some kids. The audience reacted well with the cast members and many joined in with the song and dance.

I would definitely recommend it to my friends and family and I would even go and see it again!

REVIEW: Living With Johnny Depp

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:55:42 +0200

In her first Edinburgh performance, Joanne Mitchell entertains us with her comic interpretation of three faces of Irish femininity. There is Shania, the young heroine of sorts, who is in love with a poster image of Johnny Depp and carelessly drifting out of education because of this.

Miss Murphy, the teacher is a grotesque creation, repressed and obsessed with grammatical rules by day. At night she dreams alone.

Head mistress Mrs Ingoldsby wields power over all but indulges in her own drunken fantasies.

Mitchell portrays all three characters, drawn from her own experience, to perfection. The audience has little choice but to participate in the dark humour.

A show well worth taking a chance on.

REVIEW: Barnaby Brown : Orphan Extraordinaire

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:22:42 +0200

"Barnaby Brown : Orphan Extraordinaire" was a theatre performance about an orphan who is trying to find a family to live with.

We weren't originally going to see this show but because our first choice was booked up we had to go and see this one. In the programme it sounded slightly amusing but I didn't find it so when I got there.

I think that Barnaby Brown was meant to be a good play but because the storyline was not well written I found myself bored half way through. It was meant to be funny but it wasn't in my opinion. However the men in the audience laughed out loud.

The performance was held in a small room at the Pleasance Dome. The lighting was quite effective.

Probably the best thing about the show was the way the cast changed from one character to another in such a short space of time. I would recommend the show to middle aged men who have nothing to do during the day, because there were so many of them in the audience laughing. But I would definitely not go and see it again.
Overall I didn't really enjoy it as I found it boring with repetitive jokes.

REVIEW: Talking Pants

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:06:28 +0200

We picked this show because it sounded funny and interesting. The show was meant to be in the 'story comedy' category but wasn't really funny.

In the show Ian, the performer, made up stories which were meant to be funny didn't quite hit the mark. The audience was made up of a few people, mainly children. We don't know if the audience enjoyed it because none of them wanted to be interviewed, but we gathered that when Ian told a joke no one laughed.

We wouldn't really recommend it and we wouldn't go and see it again. It isn't really for our age group, it's more for 6-8 year olds.

REVIEW: Silly Billy Bum Breath Strikes Back

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:49:56 +0200

We picked this show because we saw their show last year and really enjoyed it. The show was definitely in the comedy category.

The venue was nicely laid out, a good temperature and very comfortable to sit in.

In the show the two main characters recapped on what had happened last year in a very funny way. They then got on with the show. It was hilarious!

The audience seemed to enjoy the whole show as they were almost laughing through the whole show. Also when we got an interview with an audience member all his comments were positive.

We would recommend the show to ages 4 to 14 and to adults who are parents and middle aged adults.

We would go and see the show again because it was really funny and never gets boring.

REVIEW: ?!?

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:43:13 +0200

When asked what kind of show '?!?' was, I find myself lost for words. Was it a play? No. Was it comedy? I guess so. What kind of comedy? Well, I guess it was a quiz comedy. If such a genre exists.

We arrived at the venue, The Green Room, and after we collected the tickets we were told to wait at the bar. At the Underbelly you wait at the bar before being ushered into the venue so I expected something like this to happen. But no, ten minutes later a man came round, collected our tickets and gave us an answer sheet and a pencil. I was starting to get an idea of what this would be like.

There were many different rounds and we were required to answer the questions in as imaginative a way as possible. We decided on how many points the other teams got for their answers and they decided how many we got for ours. The host added a lot more humour to the occasion and we soon became referred to as "The 14 year olds"

By the end we had won two cans of Red Bull - which I blame for my hyperactivity later that evening - and a garden gnome. I greatly enjoyed the whole experience and since we got 5 points by saying we would give a good review, then that's what I shall do!

REVIEW: Professor Bumm's Story Machine

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:35:01 +0200

We picked this show because of the name - it sounded funny. The show is definitely a comedy.

The venue was very nice to sit in because it was well laid out, there was a good temperature and there was a nice atmosphere.

In the show the two characters reacted well with the audience. They told six basic stories, made up, depending on which six words the audience chose.

The audience seemed to enjoy the show as there was a lot of laughing and chances for everyone to give input. And when everyone went out at the end everyone was happy.

We would recommend the show to ages 6-15. But we think children of all ages and adults would enjoy the show.

We would go and see the show again because it was really funny, never the same and would never get boring.

REVIEW: Anatole and Yerhudi

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:27:10 +0200

This is a show about a cat and a horse living in the rafters of a sea-faring particle accelerator. Yes, that's right - it's a surreal comedy which is about as random as it gets. It involves time travel, invisible fortresses, crow psychiatry, Egyptian princes... and that's just the start.

This show is hilarious if you can keep up with the frantic flow strangeness. This is the best surreal comedy I have ever seen and it is well worth going to see.

After opening with a funny, if a little unclear, musical piece, you are mesmerized by the antics of the cat and horse and are amazed as they somehow make it even stranger than before.

You won't regret seeing this show.

REVIEW: Monsters

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:20:58 +0200

We picked this show as we thought it would be enjoyable. "Monsters" is a confusing theatre act of which an old family member comes back and relationships start to crumble. After a point of confrontation and a family member passes out it becomes too confusing.

The venue was damp and dark, it did not have a nice feel to it, unlike some other venues. There were a few adults in the audience but we were the only children. The audience seemed to only have a vague idea of what happened, like us. We wouldn't recommend this, as it was very hard to understand. We would not see it again as it was not very enjoyable.

REVIEW: The Terrible Infants

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:13:17 +0200

The Terrible Infants was an enjoyable theatre performance at the Pleasance Courtyard. In the Fringe programme it sounded really fun which is why we went to go and see it. The Pleasance Courtyard is a very atmospheric, busy place, and ideal for seeing shows. It was very good for interviewing people as there was a packed audience.

In the performance there was a variety of techniques including puppetry, live music, lighting, mime, jokes and much more. The live music was really skilful as there were two different musicians who played many different instruments. The cast played a number of different characters, which was very well done. We were in quite a large hall but you could always hear the actors and you could tell that they had experience of performing before.

We would definitely recommend the show to other people of all ages. Everyone was laughing and seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. Because we enjoyed it so much if we got the chance to, we would probably see The Terrible Infants again.

We would give the show four stars out of five because it was humorous, the acting was very enjoyable and the live music added a pleasant touch.

REVIEW: Disney's High School Musical

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:56:07 +0200

'Disney's High School Musical' is performed by The York County School of the Arts based in Virginia, USA. We picked the show because we thought it would be entertaining having seen the film and we like the thought of it being done as a musical. The venue was Churchill Theatre in Edinburgh as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The venue was great for a production like that.

To summarise the story, it sees Troy who is a keen basketball player, fall in love with a girl called Gabriella, who is very keen on science. It's love at first sight between the two, but not everything goes to plan. Troy has a basketball match and Gabriella has a science competition on the same day. To add to their misery, they want to audition for Romeo and Juliet, which is taking place on the same day as their competitions!

The audience seemed to really enjoy the musical as, for instance, they were singing along to the songs.

We recommend the show to any other person who likes musical theatre and loves the film High School Musical.

If the musical was going to be performed again in Edinburgh we would definitely go again.

Go Wildcats!

REVIEW: Oxford Imps

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:34:56 +0200

First of all, I chose this show because when I read about it I liked the sound of it. I wanted to see it because I like comedy shows. The venue was a converted room at the University, set out like a small theatre to hold 50-100 people. They made up their show on the spot. The audience there were mostly adults and they reacted positively to the show and were keen to suggest ideas for the cast to use.

I recommend everyone to see the show, on until the 27th of August.

REVIEW: Babble

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:29:38 +0200

Babble was a monologue about a man who lived alone and devoted his life to his library until he let one idea take over his life. He was so obsessed with this idea that he ended up losing the woman he loved and lost all contact with almost any other humans.

It was in The Green Room, which was a small attic room with a basic set. There was a black and white backdrop showing messy shelves of books. It was very effective.

It was an interesting performance and the actor engaged with his audience - although that was the problem. We were the only two members of the audience. It was interesting but it was very uncomfortable being the only people there.

We would not want to go and see the show again as we didn't really understand the plot and found it quite boring.

REVIEW: Doctor Deepak's Midday Surgery

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:12:10 +0200

Doctor Deepak was our last Fringe show we went to see. It was about a GP with multiple personality disorder. When he put on his white coat he went from a kind, caring doctor to a crazy, angry, plastic surgeon telling everyone the secrets of the medical world.

The show had clever humour, some of which was quite 'adult' but as it was quite difficult for younger ears to understand I think if you took your children you might get asked a few un-easy questions.

I would rate this show 3 stars as it was amusing and clever but not the best show I've seen.

REVIEW: Anthology07

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 08:30:25 +0200

'Anthology07' was a stand up comedian show. The show was meant to have 4 guests although there ended up bein only two. The comedians worked around this very well and made sure that people still got their money's worth.

The main comedian leading the show was Andrew J. Lederer. He told various stories about his past and his views on things. His improvisation was second to none and he was very talented in audience involvement. For example, he picked up on the fact that I was working for the Festival Radio Project and wove this into his show at various points. He had a very busy schedule and had to rush from another show to this one, and then from this show to another one!

I enjoyed the show and thought it was clever although it was far from amazing. I would recommend this show to anyone who enjoys light-hearted stand-up as the jokes weren't too complicated. I would rate it two stars because it wasn't awful but was far from the best I had seen.

REVIEW: ?!?

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 08:21:03 +0200

I chose to go and see '?!?' because I read the summary on the Fringe website and thought it sounded different and interesting.

It was a quiz with a twist - you got points for answering correctly but you also got them for providing witty or imaginative answers. Also, cheating was positively encouraged! I find it hard to put a genre to this show. it was funny, therefore a comedy, however it was unscripted so more of a conversation than a show. So, in true Edinburgh fashion I was left ever so slightly bewildered by the whole experience.

The venue was the Green Room on Guthrie Street which is a new venue this year so I was also interested to see what it was like. We never saw the main performance rooms as "?!?" was held in the bar area.

There were a lot of open debates among us "the 14 year olds" and the other people involved about the answers. This was a good thing as it made the quiz funnier and added yet another dimension to the whole thing. By the time we left we had acquired ourselves 2 cans of Red Bull and a garden gnome!

I feel this would be an enjoyable hour for any family therefore I would definitely recommend this show to people of all ages and stages.

REVIEW: Breakfast With The Bickersons

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 07:03:33 +0200

'Breakfast With The Bickersons' is a puppet comedy show which is aimed at all ages. It used to be a radio comedy show in the 1940s, following John and Blanche Bickerson during their marriage, their highs and lows.

Now they have managed to create a more up-to-date version, which still has the same concept - following Blanche and John's divorce and seeing them always argue with each other. They have also included a few scenes to make the show informative and funny.

We thought that the show was very funny and very cleverly done. They also interacted quite well with the audience and you could clearly understand what was going on.

There weren't very many people in the audience, but the people who were there seemed to enjoy it just as much as we did.

We would definitely recommend other people to come and see it, as it is a bit of harmless fun first thing in the morning. And the good thing is that you get a free breakfast! The show is suitable for all ages.

The show was actually done in a tent, next to the C Theatre in Chambers Street. It is very well set up, and the venue had a nice atmosphere about it, which made for an enjoyable production.

The show is on at the SoCo Urban Garden between the 3rd and 27th of August at 10.50am and 12.10pm every day.

REVIEW: Shakespeare For Breakfast

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:53:34 +0200

'Shakespeare For Breakfast' is a hilarious spoof involving some of Shakespeare's greatest characters. Hamlet, Cleopatra, King Lear and more all have a place in this fun comedy.

It is about the cast from a film about all of Shakespeare's works but the actors are the characters they portray. They are flying to the premiere of the film when Puck (who's scenes have all been deleted) causes their plane to crash on an island and uses the situation to get his revenge. She then causes all the characters to fall into embarrassing situations and succeeds in creating chaos until she promises to be King Lear's lover if he can defeat Macbeth. She is sure he will prevail but he wins by fighting dirty and she is forced to be his.

The comedy is cleverly crafted and engagingly told. With at least a laugh a minute it is well worth getting up early for this five star show.

REVIEW: Just So Ever Slightly

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:03:35 +0200

I picked it because it looked good and I knew some people who were doing it. It was a sketch comedy which was written and directed by two talented 6th years. It was in diverse attraction which is a venue which tries to give help to local amateur performers and enable them to perform in a good atmosphere.

The play consisted of two young men, who were good comedians, playing many different characters in many different, often weird situation. There was some characters who kept appearing and some who just appeared once. The jokes were rather repetitive but if you have an immature sense of humour it was quite funny.

I think this play is mainly suitable for people from the ages of 14 to 21, or with a sense of humour in that age range. Some older members of the audience left by the end as I think they found it repetitive. About half way through the show you were in hysterics but by the end you were getting a bit bored.

On the whole it was funny and an hour well spent.

REVIEW: The Butler Did It!?

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:57:46 +0200

The Butler did it?! is a murder mystery theatre production by Afternoon delight theatre company. We picked this show because it did not sound like a usual production. The venue was different; as you had to go upstairs we had to wait a while as well.

In the play a story was told of a wealthy man his daughter, sister, brother, nephews, a French woman, American actor and the butler. The wealthy man could not decide who to give his fortunes to. He pretended to die and whoever loved him the most would get his money. As the story began to unravel many secrets came out. With a song at the end it was a brilliant show.

The audience seemed to enjoy it. It was a show fit for all the family. Try to get there early as seats fill up fast. The audience had a good reaction to the performance and it was fun for all.

We would recommend this to anyone up for a laugh.

REVIEW: In Hysterics

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:52:30 +0200

I chose to go and see In Hysterics because I thought it sounded like a crazy plot line, how can something about a wandering womb not be interesting? It was a theatre piece which advertised itself as a comedy but though it was funny at points, there were some serious themes explored. It was in the Underbelly, which is a nice location for quite intimate performances.

The play consisted of one woman, who was a fantastic actress, acting a woman who didn't really know where her life was going. This woman had lots of weird dreams and soon her womb had run away. She spent the play trying to think of ways of finding it, while giving the audience a fantastic insight into her life. Through stories, and acting many characters (which she got away with because she was slightly crazy) she enabled us to look at life from a completely different point of view, but by the end you started to see that maybe her life wasnt so different from your own.

I think this play would be great for teenagers as it is a coming of age play of sorts. Teenagers worry on a daily basis about many of the issues that the character in this play is dealing with, minus of course the missing womb. There were not that many people in the audience which is a real shame because I think many people would find that this play was an hour well spent.

This was a brilliantly acted, weird, but strangly compelling piece of theatre. By mixing real laugh out loud moments and serious issues this directing student has produced a superb piece.

REVIEW: Miracles

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:41:14 +0200

This show is a truly fantastic, thought provoking, mind-bending, 'discombobulating' experience. From start to finish the young people delve into our conscience minds exploring our understandings and beliefs (or not) of life, nature, spirituality and happiness.
The performance left you with much philosophical conversation to be had.

A definite must see!!!

REVIEW: Odd & Abandoned

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:34:45 +0200

"Odd & Abandoned" is a fantastic piece of theatre that explores lots of different techniques. The plot is simple but very interesting and unusual. Three women who live in a basement of a house and do not ventures outside are forced to leave when there is an unexpected arrival of a pair of shoes.

There is audience participation, puppets, singing, great use of lighting and everything else you could want.

It was in the Pleasance Joker Dome, which was perfect; it was dark and quite mysterious. The seating was a variety of different chairs arranged around the theatre space.

There was a variety of people in the audience who all seemed to throughly enjoy the show. Near the beginning the actresses came and examined a selection of people's shoes, which added an interesting twist to the performance.

Also when the characters were sitting down to tea the asked a member of the audience to pour them some tea and a teapot was found under their seat.

REVIEW: Doctor Deepak's Midday Surgery

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:29:10 +0200

I didn't choose to go to see this show, but I thought it sounded like it could be funny so went along anyway.

"Doctor Deepak" was a comedy sketch show about a guy who apparently had an adverse reaction to putting on a doctor's white coat. It made him take on another personality, a more extrovert and supposedly funny personality.

The show was held in an upstairs bar on Brunswick Street, it was quite small and dark with far too many seats put out for the amount of people who actually came.

I think I didn't find it that funny because every joke was of an "adult nature" and I feel the theme was overused, this was not mentioned in any summary I read before going to see it. I don't think I was alone in thinking this as the other four people who came only seemed managed a titter at each joke.

I would recommend this show to very easily entertained people who dont have anything better to do. I would only consider going again if I knew "Doctor Deepak" had changed his show quite a lot.

All in all I would give this show a 1/5

=]

REVIEW: Rose Gets Shot

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 05:04:21 +0200

"Rose Gets Shot" is a theatre production that I chose to see because it was on at the time I needed to go really. I didnt know much about the show before going to see it, I had just read the summary on the fringe website.

The venue was Studio 1 of The C SoCo (aka Adam House). Once inside the room was quite small and dark with rows of chairs on three sides.

When you entered the room some actors were wandering around to an eerie murder mystery type soundtrack, once all of the small audience had taken their seats the show began. It was set in a brothel and the play revolved around the disappearance of the boss, Rose. She had received a letter with the words "Rose Gets Shot" in different sized letters, Rose phoned the police to inform them that she was being threatened and the advised her to come down to the station. She never arrived.

The rest of the play was made up of a long investigation that at some points seemed to drag or be going nowhere though, in the end all things were solved.

I found the set and costume design quite interesting as everything was black and white including the characters hair. Also I felt that they utilised the space very well using big black boards on wheels to create the feeling of different scenes.

I wouldn't bother going to see the show again as would find it boring to know all the climaxes, but I would recommend all over 14 to go and see it.

"Rose Gets Shot" was a lot darker than the summary led me to believe, nevertheless it was a good show that entertained me and held my attention most of the time.

REVIEW: The Diary of Anne Frank

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:57:25 +0200

Holly and I picked this show because it is a real life story and have both read about it. This is a theatre play preformed by a group that has been acting to together for five years and first preformed at their school. The Venue was very nice and welcoming, as soon as we walked in we were told exactly where to go and beside where the usher was a small snack bar.

Anne Frank is set in World War II and is basically about a girl who is Jewish along with the rest of her family, Otto her dad, Margo her older sister and Edith her mum. Hitler is taking over which forces them in to hiding with the Van Dans. They have hardly any food but with the help of Meip and Mr Krawler they last for two years in an office attic. Once they were found out and sent to concentration camps Otto was the only survivor went back to the attic and was talking to Meip about leaving when she shows him the dairy that when the lay starts it as you reading it.

The Audience seemed to really take it all in how serious it was there was a mixture of all ages.

REVIEW: 40 Feathered Winks

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:22:42 +0200

When the performance began I thought that it was going to be one of these shows with symbolism that no one can understand and a story line that you could achieve by cutting out words from a cereal box and rearranging blindly on the coffee table. And to be honest it was a little bit of this but although I was thinking that this is the kind of show that makes you envious of animals for not being able to try and understand it, at the same time I was indeed entertained, and watched the show through without wishing that I was somewhere else.

Although it was slightly all over the place, and took a while to establish each scene, you eventually became familiar with the characters and their situations.

At times it seemed a lot better thought out and the choreography especially showed up as a worked on feature.

REVIEW: Ha�zkla

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 09:25:32 +0200

Storytelling through the medium of puppetry does not come much better than this dazzling, original story from Pangolin's Teatime theatre company. Haözkla is the land that an old man, Japeth, discovers when he reads an old scroll. As we enter the strange land of Haözkla we meet Elzka, a seamstress, who discovers she is pregnant with the living deity.

It's a bizarre plot, but it makes sense and from the first five minutes of the play it's really very easy to lose yourself in the world that is Haözkla. The puppets are deftly handled and the line between actor and puppet seems to blur as the sheer craftsmanship of the puppets keeps an enraptured audience involved.

I would highly recommend Haözkla to fans of puppetry, but I would also encourage other unfamiliar with this art form to go along and be dazzled.

REVIEW: The Butler Did It!?

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 10:49:09 +0200

We chose to go see the Butler Did It!? because it sounded original, it was still in with the theme of mystery. And being a murder one it left an air of intrigue in the plot- we could both try and solve the mystery as the play went on. It was a murder mystery with a hint of dark comedy.

The venue was nice but nothing special. We went upstairs to the staging area. The show was set in an old manor, and the family were devastated by a murder. The show progressed giving the audience useful clues as to try and uncover the culprit, however certain witty plot twists and clever remarks would keep you guessing until the last possible moment. There were only a few other teenagers in the audience and many middle aged folk.

The audience reacted as expected, laughing at jokes and gasping as the two gunshots were fired.

REVIEW: Jesus, The Guantanamo Years

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:49:09 +0200

We picked Jesus, The Guantanamo years as it sounded very interesting and topical as Guantanamo bay and terrorist attacks have been very much in the news recently. It is a comedy but also has a very serious message about American policies and people's interpretation of the Bible.

During the show, Jesus talkes about his experiences on earth and his view on other Christians. He also has very serious points to make on the situation in Guantanamo Bay and the current US authorities.

The audience mainly consisted of 20-40 year old adults although on the whole it was a mixed audience. The venue was full proving this to be a popular performance.

The audience reacted well to the play and laughed frequently. I would definitely recommend the show to others as it is topical and interesting.

Jesus, The Guantanamo Years is on Monday to Saturday until the 27th August at 1pm at the Smirnoff Underbelly.

REVIEW: The Decameron Project

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 06:59:35 +0200

Even though I had never heard of Boccaccio's Decameron and had no idea what to expect, I came away having very much enjoyed the production and wanting to find out more.

Set in 14th Century Italy, the play follows a group of friends feeling plague-ridden Florence in an attempt to escape the highly contagious and fatal disease. Along the way they seek safety in their friendship and cameraderie, and entertainment or distraction in storytelling. The tales they tell each other and act out, touch on many aspects of life, including love, sex, betrayal and death, and are correpondingly comic or tragic.

The staging was very basic, with only a number of polystyrene blocks, moved by the cast, to suggest walls, tables, and a cross, but this ensured that the focus remained on the characters and the words, rather than the scenery or special effects. The audience was small but it was appreciative of the efforts of the engaging student cast, to bring some of the stories from Boccaccio's work to life.

Although the play was written and takes place so long ago, the stories are familiar and speak to any era, and the theme of the ever-present spectre and threat of the plague finds echoes today in terrorism, famine and poverty.

REVIEW: Automated Housewives

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 06:38:54 +0200

We picked the show Automated Housewives as it sounded like a funny, lighthearted comedy for our first show. The venue, the Pleasance Hut, was nice and intimate with original two-person chairs.

The show was set in a radio recording studio and during a live performance of the Automated Housewives. They provided a running commentary of whom in the world of celebrity was 'automated'. The characters were obviously trying to impress each other, which provided a funny twist. There was audience participation and those asked questions received dish sponges, which was in tune with the theme of the housewife.

The audience was mainly middle-aged. There was a mixed reaction to the show, with some liking it and others not being impressed.

I would recommend the show to an older audience but those of a younger age wouldn't find this show as interesting.

The show is on daily at 1pm until the 27th of August at the Pleasance Courtyard.

We give the show two and a half stars out of five.

REVIEW: The Romeo And Juliet Syndrome

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 06:31:29 +0200

The Romeo and Juliet Syndrome is a play about, essentially, love. It is told through the eyes of many different people and explains how love can happen when you least expect it. The play is a mix of theatre and comedy, which could be difficult to execute but I think that the lets get em ensemble executed this really well. They carried it off with style and drama, producing a play which was not only easy to follow but also very enjoyable!

The Iron Belly is a great venue for this kind of performance because it seems to be confused as to its purpose. Is it a distillery or a theatre? This fitted accordingly to the play because it was caught between genres.

The actors used audience participation in this play really well to illustrate how someone could fall in love and also how the heart can be broken. The show had an element of uniqueness in it because they had part of the cast pretending to be the audience. They had actors posing as a reporter and an audience member who eventually joined in with the acting made you feel included in the show.

The audience was made up of mostly younger people, with some exceptions. They all seemed to really enjoy the play and came away looking very elated and content. The venue was quite full for an amateur performance, so I think that it was quite popular. The audience laughed lot when the comedy performance was going on, and were gripped throughout the dramatic scenes.

I would recommend this performance to anyone who enjoys cheerful plays with some humour and a serious storyline. Anyone of any age could enjoy this performance. It is well scripted and the movement on stage was well choreographed.

We would give this show: four little hearts out of five...

REVIEW: Grow Up

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 06:07:47 +0200

Grow up is a comical show written and performed by Anna O'Grady, Alastair Roberts, Tom Sharpe, Tom Williams, Tom Kingsley and their lighting person, Patrick Hartley. Grow Up is lots of different comedy sketches, all very original and funny.

We picked Grow up because it looked funny and younger people were perfomring, so we though it would be really enjoyable. There was a great atmosphere as the venue was absolutely packed! We felt we could relate to some of the characters and we were grateful that we were allowed to see the show. The jokes were amusing and the characters were interesting and different. The audience enjoyed it thoroughly and everyone was joyful at the end of the show.

Everything was well organised and props were well used. There were no faults in the lighting and wonderful effects were used with the images projected onto the wall behind. There were some swear words in it, but all were not used innappropriately. We would not suggest this show to younger children because they may not understand the jokes and there is mild swearing.

We thoroughly enjoyed the show and give Grow Up five stars!

REVIEW: The Eggman

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 06:00:47 +0200

The Eggman is a one-man show where the performer - a very talented man - plays seven very different characters with one thing in common: they are all the same height.

The setting in the vaults of the Smirnoff Baby Belly gives a close and intimate feel to the performance. The idea behind the show was very clever as are a lot of show concepts on the Fringe, but unfortunately he concentrated more on character acting and trying to put over some kind of moral message (the nature of which was never made clear) which is never a good idea on a comedy show, than trying to make good jokes.

A lot of the humour was a little forced and I felt the audience was laughing to be nice rather than genuinely finding it all that funny. On the other hand the acting was exceptional and the characters were generally very well observed, though the character of the woman hotel worker who appeared to have Tourrette's Syndrome was quite weak and potentially offensive. On the whole the performance was well executed, but at the expense of good jokes.

We gave Eggman three stars

REVIEW: Sister Mary McArthur: Celebrity Nun

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 05:59:24 +0200

Sister Mary McArthur: Celebrity Nun is a comical and musical show written by Tim McArthur and performed by Tim McArthur (Sister Mary McArthur) along with James Adler (Brother Matthew). It is Sister Mary telling her life story using songs and props and songs.

We picked Celebrity Nun because it looked funny and there were some good reviews about it. The venue was a great venue as the Gilded Balloon is a very friendly building and there was a great atmosphere. We felt, being a young audience, that Sister Mary McArthur was just as enjoyable as it would have been for someone older. The jokes were very funny and they used props well to add even more humour. The piano playing was very high quality and the singing was very skilful. The lighting was very good and the costumes were amazing.

They advertised their show well and the songs were well chosen. We liked the fact that there was some audience participation and some lovely homemade flap-jack.

We really enjoyed Sister Mary McArthur: Celebrity Nun and would recommend it to anyone over the age of 11.

We give it four stars

REVIEW: Iron Brew

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 05:59:08 +0200

Iron Brew is a comical show written by Sam Snape and performed by Victoria Johnston (Trish) and Hayley Rudd (Susie).

The show is about two girls who have been best friends for years, and they have now drifted apart.

We picked Iron Brew because of the title but we were led on and it actually didnt have much to do with the drink. The venue was a great venue as the Gilded Balloon is a very friendly building and there was a great atmosphere inside.

We felt, being a young audience that Iron Brew wasnt very satisfactory and we found the plot quite depressing. We also found the plot confusing and the actresses frequently changed the mood of the character, which meant the audience struggled to keep up with what was happening.

There werent many people in the audience, which shows they need to possibly improve their commercial skills and publicise their show more.

We think that their staging was terrible at some points because they were blocking each other. At some points the pauses were too long and the audience was waiting, where as they could and should be on the edge of their seats. The use of swear words was inappropriate, we felt.

We give Iron Brew one star

REVIEW: The Real Inspector Hound

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 05:29:01 +0200

We chose this show because we decided on the theme of mystery. The times and days were perfect too. It just overall looked good. It was under the Theatre genre and was a murder mystery like no other. It was quite an old building. We had to climb a long winding staircase to get to the staging area. A lady took our tickets and then we went into a dark room with about seven rows of seats. There was a staging area, with big black curtains.

The show was set in 1968. The plot was an escaped madman on the loose, police announcements detailing his whereabouts were given via radio throughout the show. The description fitted perfectly to the character Simon (Paul Barrand) to mislead the audience to think that Simon was the madman. Other characters include the Major Magnus (Jim Levi/Richard Damarell) who is confined to a wheelchair, Felicity (Rachel Ross-Trevor) and Lady Cynthia (Viv Beckett).

There wasnt many seats but they were almost full. The audience age group was around Early 20s to mid 30s. The audience laughed at all the jokes, which is always a good sign.

We would definitely go and see it again because it was quite confusing and I would probably understand it better the second time around. We would recommend it to anyone over thirteen.

We would give this play 3 and a half stars.

REVIEW: Honk!

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 05:24:35 +0200

We chose to go see Honk because it sounded amusing, we both enjoy musicals and it was based on the Ugly Duckling, the well-known classic tale. The Venue was pretty big. There was a separate area with a bar and leather couches. We went into the foyer, then headed downstairs to the staging area. It was simply a large room with plush red seats.

It was set on a farmyard. Proud parents Drake and mother Duck, had just hatched four eggs. The first three were some extremely cute baby chicks. However the fourth was the runt of the litter, and named Ugly, he was teased by his siblings.

Despite warnings from his mother Ugly escapes one day with a cat, who plans to eat him. Luckily he flees to safety and encounters many magical, mysterious creatures on the way including frogs and geese. You probably know the ending but I wont spoil the surprise!

There was a wide variety of ages in the audience. Many seemed to enjoy the show, if all the hoots of laughter in the front row were anything to go by! I would recommend the show to others but only a younger age group perhaps six to eleven as they would love the colourful costumes. I would go see the show again if I got the chance but only once more as it didnt have much re-watch value.

The show is on every day at 12:45 from now until August 28th.

Overall we give this show four stars.

REVIEW: Othello

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 05:20:41 +0200

We really liked the show it was well performed and very interesting.

We picked this show because the people who promoted it made it sound exciting (and it was!) The show is a theatre production.
The venue was an ok size but inside the theatre was quite hot. The actors made a good use of the space, like a table represents a dining room and a box with a pillow on a box represents a bedroom. When the actors were off stage they just blended into the background instead of taking up a lot of space.

This is a Shakespeare play and those can often be hard to perform, but this group of teenagers made it look easy. It is a bitter love story with lots of action and passion! The audience were of different ages the youngest being around 14.

I would recommend this show to anyone who likes Shakespeare and wants to see a really good show. We wouldnt see it again but it is worth seeing .The show is at 1:10 at venue 45.

We would give it 4 stars.

REVIEW: Imagine I Am Smiling

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 10:31:11 +0200

We picked Imagine I am Smiling as its review in the fringe guide sounded interesting.

The venue was the old tenement caves of the Cowgate which was very different and a somewhat spooky setting, but certainly created a good atmosphere.

The show is set in a train station throughout the night on a station bench. It begins with two women on the bench and one of them, June, strikes up a conversation with the other woman, April. There is an obvious awkward feeling from April at the idea of talking to this stranger, which comes across well. Later the final character May arrives, late as she slept in. She recognises June and this provides a good link between characters. The play carries on through the night and portrays how complete strangers can interact. It is a fascinating play about human relationships, and shows that even when the three characters are completely different they still keep each other company.

There were lots of people in the audience ranging from young adults to older generations. The audience reacted well and laughed frequently showing that they enjoyed the play.

I would definitely recommend the play to others as I really enjoyed it and I think all most people would too.

The show is on daily at 2.45pm until the 27th August at the Smirnoff Baby Belly.

REVIEW: Breakfast Bedlam, Live!

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 06:25:39 +0200

The main idea behind Breakfast Bedlam, Live! is that it is a satirical take on Saturday morning kids T.V and with a ditzy blonde female presenter; a spurned actor male presenter; a stressed, mean and cynical director and a lot of double standards in the production it would seem like this would be a success. And at the beginning of the show it seems to be hitting all the right spots with some very well observed jokes on the nature of kids T.V production including amongst others a section on how much damage dwarves can take, and some unexpected advertisements such as the Countryside Alliance-Because the gentry knows best.

However as the show progressed the former scathing satire falls down to make way for a series of crude jokes and unbelievable situations, such as the health and safety officer being wired up with a bomb. This show, whilst having an interesting premise and well thought out characters sadly lacks stamina and cannot keep up the good quality of observational comedy and falls back on cheap jokes and contrivance.

REVIEW: Corleone: The Shakespearean Godfather

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 06:20:42 +0200

This is a tale of The Godafather except this time it uses Shakespeare language, so you can obviously see where the name came from. This is basically The Godfather story except with some minor changes, bearing in mind that it is Shakespeare! For instance, instead of using guns they used knives.

The heading that this show is put under is theatre. The venue where you can see this show is Blueside, Pilrig Church based in Leith Walk. Since it was being done in such a small hall, there were only a few people, but they seemed to enjoy it, and they did react well.

I would definitely go and see this show again, as it brought a lot of suspense which I like to see. This show was definitely in Godfather Style and it has been really clever how they have managed to do this, but also incorporate some type of Shakespeare language into it. The producers of this show have done a grand job!

Corleone: The Shakespearean Godfather is on at the following times at Blueside; Pilrig Church (Fringe Venue 103)
10TH AUGUST- 20:30
12TH AUGUST 16:30
Each show lasts for 1 hour and 10 minutes

We hope you enjoy this show as much as we have.

We would give this show an overall rating of 3 stars!

REVIEW: Caviar and Chips

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 06:16:28 +0200

This show is fun, fast and exciting, and it kept the audience watching.

We choose this show because the woman in the street promoted it to us so well it made us want to see it! And it sounded very good. The show was a comedy.

The venue was strange but unique, it was an old looking cave with the occasional drip of water landing on someones head. Its the most interesting venue weve been in.

Three girls perform playing eight different parts. The scenes were a smooth running from one to another. The radiance was included but in the sense that the performers were in a show. The show was aimed at about 16 and up and were 14 so it was ok for us at a push (If you are our age dont see it with your parents!!!) I would recommend it to anyone of those ages.

The show was at the baby belly 2 at 3:45 for 45 minutes.

We would give it 4 stars!

REVIEW: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 10:15:48 +0200

We thought the show was very entertaining but quite scary for children.

We picked this show because we wanted to do a section on childrens shows. Also it sounded interesting.
It is a childrens fantasy show.
The venue was quite small and cramped. It was annoying when we were queueing for tickets and waiting to get in as everyone was squashed together. In the theatre you were very close to the performers and the rest of the audience but it did add a scary effect to the performance, bein so close.

The show is about four children who move house to the country because its set during the second world war. The children discover a land at the back of a wardrobe, one of them gets captured by the evil Queen but in the end the children save the land and are crowned kings and queens of the country.

We found that in the show a girl played Aslan and he is supposed to be a male lion but I thought it was a nice touch for the show.

The audience werent part of the play they were just there to watch.
We would recommend the show probably to people ages eight plus.
I dont think I would see it again because once is enough and I enjoyed it while it lasted.

The show was on at ten in the morning (which is a bit earlier for us teenagers) but fine for children. It was at venue fifty-four the Carton hotel.

We would give it a four star rating.

REVIEW: David Benson - Why Pay More?

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 10:51:51 +0200

David Benson's new show "Why Pay More?" is about his early years and why he came up to live in Edinburgh and how he got into performing at the Fringe.

There's songs, there's dancing, but most of all it's mainly about his life, so if you know little or nothing about him and would like to know more, come to the baby grand. It's a small portacabin with some seats, so if you like people talking about themselves with some jazzy songs and some, but not many, weak gags this is perfect for you! This would appeal most to an older ag group. But we suggest - why not pay less?

REVIEW: The Improvability Drive

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 10:28:40 +0200

The Improvability Drive is an entirely improvised show which takes suggestions from the audience and turns them into hilarious scenes while using games to make them eve n sillier. It's family friendly with lots of audience participation. I would recommend this show to all ages and is well worth the £5 fee

It deserves all of these five stars

REVIEW: WASP

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 10:21:42 +0200

We picked this show because it sounded funny and original. Having described itself as a satire, it didnt live up to expectations which was rather disappointing.

Wasp is a theatrical piece about an American family of Christians who are slightly dysfunctional though still very religious. The venue was C Central Studio 2, which was small but clean and comfortable and provided a good view of the action though whether this was a good thing or not is debatable. Throughout the show, cardboard props were used to try and portray everyday family life, with a host of slightly crazy and nonsensical characters.

There was an audience of eleven people, many of whom looked liked they may have known the cast. There were different reactions amongst the crowd, ranging from stony silence to contained laughter.

We would not personally recommend this show to others, as we couldnt make any sense out of it, though if it had been funny or clever we maybe wouldnt have minded as much. This show was obviously trying to make a point, but it didnt succeed in making it. Also, the script over-complicated itself with no explanation of the goings on.

You can catch a glimpse of this interesting production from the 5th 28th of August (not 13th) although there are better ways to spend your time and money in the Fringe.

REVIEW: Brick Walls

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 10:20:52 +0200

Brick Walls is an innovitive and imaginative play which takes the idea of imaginary games/friends to the extreme. The play starts with the two characters, Dan and Thomas being bricked in, they have been building a house and Dan rather stupidly has managed to build four walls and no doors! The house is in a very isolated area and nobody knows they are there because they have been building the house as a surprise. To beat boredom Thomas and Dan make up numerous games and imaginary friends and ideas. They start by imagining that theres a window in the four walls that theyre stuck in, making up all kinds of weird and wonderful ideas about what is going on outside. They then play games and invent a new character, an imaginary friend. The imagainary friend is an excellent character, hes a grandfather figure and in his short time with Thomas and Dan he manages to cause a lot of trouble between the two friends!

Brick Walls is a funny,playful but yet thoughtful play about friendship and the imagination. The acting is very good and the two actors manage to fill the stage quite easily. The play never really stops and is very lively and bouncing with energy! Brick Walls shows that youre never too old to imagine!

There was very little audience at the play, just us and one other person which was a real shame because this play was excllent and showed a lot of potential. I would reccommend the play to anyone who enjoys a laugh and I would also say that the play is suitable for children.

Our rating: 4 stars

REVIEW: Iphegenia

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 09:57:18 +0200

We went to see Iphegenia at the zoo that is an opera based on Greek mythology.

This show is on from the 4th to the 28th of August (not 10th, 17th or 24th) at 11 o'clock.

I would have probably enjoyed Iphigenia a bit more if I had been older and understood the story a bit better, but overall it was very good and Lisa Turner has a very good voice.

We would give this show 3 stars out of 5.

REVIEW: Greyfriars Bobby

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 08:04:13 +0200

Natasha and I went to see Greyfriars Bobby today at the graveyard where Bobby died. We walked about the graveyard getting told the story about bobby.

Our favourite part was when the Mayor came to save Bobby the dog from getting put down.

The funniest part was when the man who was touring us round banged into the trees and thought it was a ghost. He screamed and gave us all a fright. It was really funny.

The worst part was probably when we had to go because we were really enjoying it and it ended so quickly.

We would suggest that you go and see this show. If you are into history and like to know what happened in the olden days and want to know what happened to Greyfriars bobby then I would recommend this show to you. I would rate it out of 5.... probably 5.

REVIEW: Voices In The Dark

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 07:37:22 +0200

Voices In The Dark is a black tale about two very similar couples. In the first scene we see the first couple Jim and Nancy running away to the city together to get married because of Nancys protesting father. Then the story darkens when the second couple Ted and Barbara enter with murder in mind. Not recommended for young children because of some very graphic goriness - the blood looked real!

A final word of advice: the sound effects are LOUD, dont sit next to the speakers. On the whole we thought this was a good performance, though we preferred the exemplary acting to the sometimes lacking story line.

Well give it a reserved three stars.

REVIEW: Hansel and Gretel

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 06:04:30 +0200

Vanessa and me went to see Hansel and Gretel yesterday at the C venue on Chambers Street. It was for children over 4 and quite interesting.

Our favourite character was the Witch because she was quite scary and a fascinating character.

Our favourite part was when the Witchs Friend arrived at the Ginger Bread house because she was really funny.

The worst part was when they characters kept having to turn of the lights in the performance and change the settings.

REVIEW: Muttnik � The First Dog In Space

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 04:10:52 +0200

We went to see "Muttnik the first dog in space" at the pleasance courtyard. This is a childrens show about the first dog in space. This show is fun and gets all the family involved. Nikki McCretton is a one man band and acts five characters- a dog, a news reporter, an old woman, a scientist and a Russian soldier all interested in the launch of the first dog that goes into space. There are no spoken words in Muttnik, all communication is done by huge gestures and massive lip movements. This show is recommended for ages three to eleven but we think it should be for children between 2-8.

The venue is a nice small theatre but youre on the stage when you sit in the front row. In the show a stray dog in captured by a scientist and is sent into space. There was a bit of audience participation and 2 people got up on stage. There were quite a few people in the audience but it was mainly children and parents. The audience was very lively and participated greatly. We would recommend this show to younger children especially boys.

If you want to see Muttnik the first dog in space it is on at the pleasance courtyard at 11.25am.

We would give this show 3 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Ed Weeks Variety Show

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 04:08:51 +0200

The Ed Weeks Variety Show was not only hilarious but original, clever and a joy to watch.

When choosing a show to review honestly we were looking for any comedy on at the right time on the right day, which was surprisingly hard to find! Its just lucky for us that the show we ended up seeing was as good as this one.

It was a series of comedy sketches, with certain stories and jokes carrying on throughout the show, mostly focusing on the main character and writer, Ed Weeks and the tribulations he faced in trying to get a date. There was only a small cast of three people (including Ed Weeks himself) however they were all obviously dedicated to the show, doing everything from dressing in drag to doing an entire scene in Spanish to make the production a success.

The audience was mostly young adults; some of whom were moved to tears of laughter (us included!) once the show had really taken off. This is essential fringe viewing for anyone over the age of 14 and a fantastic way to spend an hour of your life.

The Ed Weeks Variety can be seen at the Pleasance Courtyard at 2:10pm from the 2nd to the 28th of august and it receives the Fay and Cally stamp of approval with a massive 4 out of 5.

REVIEW: Alice Through The Looking Glass

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 11:48:03 +0200

Katrina and Me went to see Alice through the looking glass today 2/8/06. I really enjoyed it. I got to interview one of the show characters who was playing the part of the queen. I asked her if making the show was hard work and did she enjoy working for the festival. She said that she definitely enjoyed working in the festival and it was her second time she had worked with the festival. She also said that it was hard work and IS hard work working for the festival but she really enjoyed herself and that she would do it again.

Some parts of the show were really funny. I picked this show because I enjoy fantasy and cartoons and I had never seen Alice and wonderland the movie so i chose to go and see the show of it instead and i really liked it. The audience didnt really react in any sort of way. I think it was because we were all really enjoying it and watching it so intensely, waiting to see what was going to happen next.

I would actually recommend this show to the adults more than the children because it seemed the adults were enjoying it more that the kids to be honest. Yes i would go and see the show again because I enjoyed it so much.

If you want to go and watch this show then Ill give you the details. August 2,3,4,5,6,8,,9,10,11,12,13,15,16,17,18,29,20,22,23,24,25,26,37,28.

There you go, if you want to go and see the show there is the information above thank you.

By Vanessa.

REVIEW : The Little Howard Appeal

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 06:48:55 +0200

The show is a comedy featuring an interactive video character called Little Howard and a human being called Howard Read.

Firstly I would like to stress that this is not only the worst venue in Edinburgh, but possibly one of the worst on the planet.

As for the show, it was incredible to see a room full of 'adults' completely absorbed by a screen featuring a badly drawn cartoon character. The humour seemed laboured and over-rehearsed. Dreadful.

1 *

By Matthew

REVIEW : Jack In The Box

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 07:22:57 +0200

The show was about a football club called Benson FC and a boy called Jack who was only 5ft 5in - short for a centre forward! And they won the cup against all odds.

We thought it was a very well thought-out and original show, fast moving and comical, good for kids and adults. All performers put a lot of effort in to make the show enjoyable. The show was roughly an hour long put passed very quickly. Good performance!

4 ****

Stephen and Euan

REVIEW : True Genius

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 07:21:28 +0200

It's about a guy who's been lied to by his mother all his life and ended up with mental problems. He battles to keep what sanity he has left and tries to find himself in a true light.

I thought the show was amazing. It was funny, dramatic and intense. It was well performed - we don't have a bad word to say about this show. Brilliant.

5*****

By Mark and Fran

REVIEW : FILM FESTIVAL : 'Stoned'

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 07:16:00 +0200

SPECIAL FILM FESTIVAL REPORT

This film was about the life of Brian Jones, creator and guitarist in the Rolling Stones' early years.

I thought it was a well-documented film, thrilling from start to finish. It was an eye-opener concerning the life of a rock 'n' roll star.

4 ****

By Fran and Mark.

REVIEW : Cabareighties

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 07:08:28 +0200

This show was about the Eighties lifestyle of the "Fun Brothers" in a comedy fashion.

I thought it was really bad. Not one person laughed at any of the jokes and to quote Derek, he'd "rather people just walked out instead of sitting there with a blank expression on their face".

1 *

By Mark and Fran

REVIEW : The Real Inspector Hound

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 07:00:14 +0200

This show is a murder mystery featuring two critics reviewing a play.

Hard to understand, poorly acted, every twenty minutes was feeling lost, not recommended. Cast member said the show was for kids also, but if we couldn't understand it, we don't think kids would have a chance!

1 *

By Euan and Stephen

REVIEW : Heart Of A Dog

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 06:53:21 +0200

A world renowned professor transplants the brain and testicles of a dead man onto a stray dog. The dog starts walking and talking and becomes a bit of a political anarchist and causes a bit of trouble for the professor.

We thought the show was a bit muddled, and we thought it was a bit political which was misleading. We found the show quite hard to understand.

2**

By Euan and Stephen

REVIEW : Sexual Perversity In Chicago

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 06:48:15 +0200

Relationship between the sexes and thoughts on who we are or who we think we are.

Good script and acting.
Just the right time and length.
Funny in parts - nothing overly serious.
Enjoyable and the characters did what they were supposed to.

3 ***

By Rizia

REVIEW : How Everything You Know Could Be Wrong

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 06:03:06 +0200

Gareth Jones' life from birth and some myths which he disproves - and a few tricks!

Gareth has an amiable personality and carries the show well. His tricks, though, are very basic - perhaps he underestimated his audiences' intelligence or knowledge of science. Nevertheless, an enjoyable hour.

It is suitable for children - ie. Nothing offensive and it did make me laugh a few times.

3***

By Rizia

REVIEW : The Yarnbards

Mon, 22 Aug 2005 04:26:39 +0200

This sophisticated and highly talented group rose effortlessly to the constant challenge posed by an unrelenting audience of all ages. Suggested subjects for interpretation included a radio D.J. who broadcasted from a cupboard, the sandman who meets Dracula.

A hilarious conversation between the utensils in a hairdressers shop late at night when the customers have all gone. So impressed was I at the variety of improvisation and ablibing of this group, I returned the following afternoon for a second helping.

5*****

REVIEW : The Snow Dragon

Mon, 22 Aug 2005 04:19:46 +0200

The use of a thoughtfully designed set helped this company overcome the limited use of their minimal staging. Catchy music and song further, had the audience swaying in harmony. Although audience participation was minimal, the youngsters in the audience appeared engrossed at the antics and vocals of this talented group of actors.

REVIEW : Not Now Bernard,And Other Monster Stories

Fri, 19 Aug 2005 12:01:53 +0200

A theatrical adaptation of the 'Not Now, Bernard' book by David McKee, this production offers the young and not so young audience a thoroughly delightful and poignant experience. The play was presented with great energy and enthusiasm.

Jaunty music intermingled with growls, grunts and groans tinged further with slip, slap slops held the young audience attention. Visually, the culmination of cheerful, cosy colours in paint pots and a patchwork quilt further enhanced the sensory perceptions of the very youngest members of the audience. A folding ladder and newspapers were imaginatively used to represent a mountain as well as varying the proximities of the limited performing area. However, didactic undertones which challenged the portrayal of rowing parents, blaming each other for their off-spring's behaviour, were cleverly weaved around the overall action. The threat to a little boy by the arrival of a new baby. In order to gain attention, his creation of an imaginary monster only further adds to his parents' 'not now, Bernard' attitude. Further stress envelopes the youngster as in his confusion a the belief that his parents have become, in his words 'the big monsters' is ultimately resolved when his parents stop squabbling and recognise their child's needs, needs that cannot be met with bribery but by love and understanding. It was no wonder then that when the final scene had been played and the audience left the enclosure, there were very happy, chatty children and a few watery-eyed adults!

REVIEW : Laura Black Goes Farming

Fri, 19 Aug 2005 11:56:12 +0200

A performing flea called Maisie, and the acquisition of a golden egg, which ultimately saves the day, this show was generally well received by young and old alike.

The production, introduced as the 'first ever sketch show for kids' moved along smoothly with the two principal players, ingeniously and energetically between them, played the multiple characters involved in the make up of the storyline.

Built around the quest to save a farm from a corporate takeover, costume, masks and vocal variants were cleverly used to carry the action. However, in view of the theatre's close proximity, a more interactive effect could have been achieved through the use of young audience participation.

REVIEW : Happiness - How Much Does It Cost?

Fri, 19 Aug 2005 10:19:14 +0200

Entering to find an audience numbering the grand total of nine (including ourselves) may have been an indication of what was to come. To find two of them dozing off after twenty minutes confirmed that I was not alone in finding this show perplexing to the point of boredom.

In his first attempt at play writing, Daniel Vivian stars as Dugi, a Yugoslav fleeing his country as it begins its demise into war. The monologue follows him as he travels from his native country to Italy, then later to Canada, where he re-discovers his family, before accidentally ending up in London (UK) while aiming for London, Ontario. Upon arriving, he swiftly marries an English woman, who he later separates from after a loveless marriage.

While Vivian has, in fact, been on a journey through these countries himself, his portrayal of Dugi was not entirely believable. He seemed to avoid any of the difficult issues surrounding asylum, as well as the hardships asylum seekers face in their quest for happiness. Indeed, everything seemed to fall perfectly in to place for him. It seemed that the story was written so as to allow it to run in exactly the way he wanted it to, rather than allowing it to develop naturally. While his performance was suitably enthusiastic, it did not ensure the audience was drawn in for long enough to keep them interested. His English, difficult to comprehend at times, draws you away from a story of asylum that really skirts around the issue.

REVIEW : After The End

Fri, 19 Aug 2005 10:15:58 +0200

"After the End", the new play from Dennis Kelly tells the story of Mark (Tom Brooke), the quintessential office geek; ignored and ridiculed by all who come across him and Louise (Kelly Condon), the popular girl who gets much attention from the men. The performance begins with a shock of blue light, revealing an intriguing set, which turns out to be a nuclear bunker that Mark just happens to have in his back garden. We are told of a terrifying atrocity unfolding above ground: a nuclear bomb has been dropped, yet, miraculously, the two have survived after Mark carried Louise to the bunker.

What ensues is an odd state of affairs, as the relationship between the two becomes increasingly tense until Mark begins denying his companion of food due to her lack of interest in playing Dungeons and Dragons. Soon, he is chaining her up "for her own good" and, eventually, he rapes her. Towards the end, just as Mark is about to kill both of them, the hatch to the bunker is opened, and we discover that, in fact, there has been no nuclear explosion. Mark had imprisoned Louise in the hope of seducing her, but his infuriation at her rejection led him to his own prison cell in the outside world.

"After the End" attracted an audience of wide demographic spread and we did not come across anyone who did not enjoy it. The acting was superb, particularly Tom Brooke's portrayal of Mark. The story line, while a little predictable, still drew the audience in from the outset and kept them gripped throughout. A fantastic show that comes highly recommended.

REVIEW : Manzillworld - Let's Start Again

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 10:37:29 +0200

The show "Manzillworld..." is about Sirus, a man who lived in the woodlands to make friends with all the creatures in a hut he built from solid pine.
He learns that the government had removed all the real animals and plants and replaced them with mechanical ones, which have been put there to record our every move.

In his comic story, Sirus teaches us how to destroy all the mechanical plants and animals and how to make our own ones from our household waste. We personally didn't find "Manzillworld..." particularly funny. Our high expectations of a comedy were not satisfied. Sirus was trying to make himself look funny by singing songs and wearing his huge glasses. But the story was totally made up and we did not appreciate it. However, of the dozen in the audience (aged between 25 and 40), most of them seemed to have enjoyed the play.

1 and a half stars out of 5

By Diana and Catriona

REVIEW : All By Myself

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 10:33:55 +0200

All By Myself is a story about Linda Trayers, a 40 year old woman who is searching for love wherever she goes.

There is not a particular story line, and Linda is improvising what she says most of the time (and she does it well), However, the show seems to be quite entertaining. Linda tends to involve the audience by asking them various questions and then interprets their answers in a funny way. We do not recommend this show to Under 16's, as there is use of strong language and sexual references.

Our rating: 3***

REVIEW : Heaven Eyes

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 06:37:42 +0200

Hi my name is Laura and I am 16 years old and I went to see Heaven Eyes. It was about three kids (ageless) one who never knew his mum or dad the other whose Mum died and someone who they never told us about that much.
I think the story was about love and being happy. The author of 'Skellig' wrote the story and it was suitable for ages 8+.
I think it was boring and would never take any one to see it.
It was held at Pleasance Courtyard, at 60 The Pleasance. It's on for one hour and five mins. I would give it one star out of five
By Laura.

REVIEW : Cheaper Than Therapy (Session B)

Wed, 17 Aug 2005 08:08:47 +0200

2 monologues by Michael Scirrotto and Collin Palomares each bringing their own exciting style and flair to the Fringe this year. 'Dancing With Myself' (Michael Scirrotto) is an energetic flash dance mixed with zany humour as a young man battles his sexual demons, trying to make it to the Prince concert and 'Ad Infinitum' (Collin Palomares) a dark tale of one man's isolation and torment at the hands of his captors. Filled with captivating tongue twisters that will have you gawping on the edge of your seat. A brilliant performance, not to be missed.

REVIEW : Happiness - How Much Does It Cost?

Wed, 17 Aug 2005 07:58:06 +0200

'Happiness how much does it cost?' Is a one-man show about a man and his experiences living and working in different countries and the people he meets. Written by the actor Daniel Vivian who plays Dugi this show is his play writing debut and it shows! Half the play is unbelievable - for example, who would cut the TV in half with a chainsaw because they are angry with their wife?!

The play follows the story of Dugi (Daniel Vivian) as he escapes Yugoslavia to work in Italy were he is found to be a good basket ball player. After a while he decides to leave and emigrate yet again to Canada where his family have found work. He finds work shovelling snow. When he first gets his Canadian passport he, by mistake, ends up in London UK because he booked the wrong flight. On his second day in the UK he marries a girl he met in a club. In short she has an affair divorces him, then it all ends very quickly and we are prompted to clap by the front of house as Vivian takes a bow.

Vivian has been to each of the countries he used in his one-hour performance and gives a sample of the culture and traditions of each country. One thing that I can say about Vivian's performance is that it is energetic and he jumps in and out of characters quickly and well. The scene changes are done well with music and lighting to enhance the change and make it less boring. Happiness is technically very good music selection for each location Beatles in the UK and traditional Italian music in the pizzeria. However the fact that two members of the audience were asleep is a warning to you not to spend £7.50 on his show.

If this has not put you off then you will find 'Happiness how much does it cost?' on page 151 of your fringe guide.

REVIEW : Jobless Satisfaction

Tue, 16 Aug 2005 10:14:39 +0200

Jobless Satisfaction was an irreverent comedy about two producers in the weird world of daytime TV. It features two Irish women trying to come up with a formula for a successful daytime chat show. Performed and written by Brona C. Titley (award winning writer) and Aisling B. O'Sullivan. Greeted by Queen's 'I Want To Ride My Bicycle', the play opened with a bare stage and two chairs, two women and a low screen. The two actresses managed to successfully work their way through the performance with witty gags and realistic sarcasm, although having said that, at times the jokes did roam into the realm of the obscure and unfunny.

Although some of the material baffled the audience at times, Titley and O'Sullivan proved to be talented actresses who worked their way through the play with ease.

The characters used throughout slightly lacked subtlety and depth. They were occasionally over-exaggerated and the personas presented felt under-developed and immature.

However, it is our opinion that Titley and O'Sullivan have a bright future ahead of them in the world of acting.

By Julie and Jeniffer

REVIEW : Flipped To The Funny Side