Elena's favourite photos. As the Festival reaches its climax, ThreeWeeks photographers pick out their favourites from the pictures they've taken this year. Today Elena Heatherwick picks theatre on the Free Fringe, the menacing Teatre Nogro, and eternal ThreeWeeks favourites the Penny Dreadfuls.

Even more reviews for you! Enjoy...

Speedy links:
Comedy - Dance - Events - Music - Musicals - Theatre

ThreeWeeks Ratings Explained
1/5: Bad
2/5: Mediocre
3/5: Good
4/5: Very good
5/5: Excellent

COMEDY

The Absolute Best Of Absolute Beginners
Fit O' The Giggles/PBH's Free Fringe
'Best' is a word that carries a lot of responsibility, implying a level of quality that few of us can aspire to. 'Beginners' is another dangerous word, undermining the first like a slap in the face. And so we get this show: somewhere between seven and ten new(ish) stand-ups, honing their material, but already tipped for big things. As you can imagine, the quality varied wildly: Speed-dating? Not funny. Caravanning holiday? Quite funny. Seventeen year-old boy talking about school teachers? Surprisingly very funny. Compère David Blair tried to keep the room warmed up, and his jokes about Paisley may have been better received if more than two people in the audience had actually been Scottish.
The Mercat Bar, 3-23 Aug, 10.20pm (11.50pm), free non-ticketed, fpp 21.
tw rating 2/5
[gs]

Rants Of Ringo
Gregory O'Connor
There's a reassuring air of Terry Wogan about Ringo; his soft Irish lilt somewhat dampens the ferocity of his ranting, and it's that which saves this from being an alienating tirade. As a speaker he is very good - enthusiastic, engaging - though perhaps a little rushed. His observations on life as a retired school teacher are astute, if not as funny as they could be. I imagine this would be superb for a dinner party, but in the arena of stand up comedy it doesn't quite make the grade. There was a need for something to break up the pace; some proper punchlines to punctuate the set. This is charming, if hindered by the sense that there isn't really anything entirely new being said.
Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House, 18-23 Aug, 5.10pm (5.50pm), £7.00 (£5.00), fpp 89.
tw rating 2/5
[th]

Holland And Hume And Someone Else
Jim Holland, Lee Hume, Special Mystery Guest/Laughing Horse Festival
Holland and Hume's show features a mystery guest and a mystery free sandwich. The former, Sean Walsh, had just woken up - and even if he hadn't told the audience that repeatedly, we probably would have worked it out as he relied on picking on the audience to get laughs, and made me hold hands with a stranger (though I did also get the sandwich). Holland had some witty lines but his delivery and timing were totally off; he seemed nervous and twitchy; soon the audience felt the same. Hume made sure the show ended on a high note, although he too could do with more confidence - he's got some excellent material that he delivered well, reviving a flagging crowd.
Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City Football Club, 18 - 25 Aug, 12.00pm (1.00pm), free, fpp 58.
tw rating 2/5
[hw]

Hot Box
Three single American gals out for good time seek young male audience member to harass (in a nice way). Must have GSOH and beer money. Hot Box is one of those little gems of the Free Fringe, featuring a refreshing international brand of humour - it's good to hear jokes about Kansas and Texas as opposed to say, Glasgow. The stand-up elements, which comprise the majority of the show, are genuine and funny, particularly Claudia's analysis of a personals ad. They do suffer from a lack of audience; this is, after all, the Argyle Bar on a soggy Monday night. The sketches are excellent, however, and reminiscent of the highlights of 'Smack The Pony'. You should check these girls out, if you ever have the chance.
Laughing Horse @ The Argyle, 2 - 25 Aug (not 12), 11.55pm (12.50am), free non-ticketed, fpp 59.
tw rating 3/5
[jwm]

JL Roberts And Nadia Kamil Present: Wisecrakin? Mindsqueezin? Behemoth
Good Sense of Humour in Association With Dawn Sedgwick Management
There is no doubt that John Lewis Robers and Nadia Kamil are talented. Their sketches were amusing and their timing perfect; it was clear that they were enjoying themselves on-stage, and the audience responded well, meaning everyone had a bit of fun. However, it was not outstanding or particularly original. Towards the end, they kind of lost their funny touch; it was a shame that they didn't finish on as amusing a note as they started. I just felt that the two of them had a lot of potential, but did not use their talent to its full advantage. Good for a bit of a giggle, but not exactly side-splitting.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug (not 13), 5.30pm (6.30pm), prices vary, fpp 65.
tw rating 3/5
[lp]

Improvised Comedy
On The Spot-Improvised Comedy
Basing your whole show on improvisation takes a lot of guts, but this young group of comedians tackled it very well, resulting in a show peppered with the kind of hilarious one-liners that only occur through lack of planning. It seemed to me to be influenced greatly by old TV favourite 'Whose Line Is It Anyway' but by no means did it lift any material from it, instead coming up with a whole new array of weird and wonderful skits. Several team members outshone the others, but on the whole they worked seamlessly together, with only the occasional stumble before they came out with something witty to say. This show is worth more than its asking price.
The Jazz Bar, 18 - 19 Aug, 7.30pm (8.30pm), £4.00 (£3.00), fpp 61.
tw rating 4/5
[zh]

Otis Lee Crenshaw
Rich Hall
Rich Hall has been performing as Otis Lee Crenshaw for a while now, and so most of tonight's audience knew what to expect: laid back comedy and country music, with just a little bite behind the growl. Hall did not disappoint, delivering a mixture of old and new songs, humour ranging across topics such as tramps, Jack Daniels, Scottish place names, and the Ku Klux Klan. Over the years, Hall's alter-ego has mellowed; the less irascible demeanour allows for greater audience interaction; at one point Crenshaw even bought a punter a beer. The real meat of the show are the songs, of course, three gifted musicians playing some blistering tunes with hilarious lyrics. A real slice of Tennessee on the Fringe!
Pleasance Courtyard,30 Jul - 25 Aug (not 11), 9.20pm (10.20pm), prices vary, fpp 84.
tw rating 4/5
[al]

Puppets On Prozac
St George's Medics Revue
Watching this St George's Medics Revue makes me want to return the favour by getting a bunch of comedians to perform a sloppy colonoscopy on each and every one of them. It's almost a masterclass in how not to write sketch comedy, with scenes abruptly ending without so much as a hint at a punchline. The only time they squeeze out a reaction is when they're randomly offensive and even then the joke doesn't make any sense. Oh God, and they sing too. To dodgy karaoke tracks. Badly. Nothing remotely funny, just the same banal and basic sketches hawked out by quack comedians who clearly feel no shame in charging people money for this shit.
Sweet Grassmarket, 18 - 25 Aug, 5.20pm (6.05pm), £8.00 (£7.00), fpp 89.
tw rating 1/5
[rd]

They Shoot Roos, Don't They?
Three Ps In A Pod
A foreigner in a hostel might see nothing of the country they're in, but this show suggests that the inside of the hostel might be just as fascinating - and scary. 'They Shoot Roos' is a bizarre story about a bright-eyed Canadian trying to escape from an Australian youth hostel. The characters she meets include the pessimistic Nadia, who talks like a pirate recounting tales of the sea - or the bush in this case - and the insane old harpy Judy. It's wonderfully surreal and the daft characters are freakishly entertaining while the script is enjoyably hackneyed. The laughs are irregular, but will have you hypnotically hooked without your even knowing why. If you fancy something silly, sweet and surreal, this is recommended.
Sweet Teviot Place, 18 - 24 Aug, 18.05pm (18.55pm), £7.00 (£6.00), fpp 103.
tw rating 3/5
[jwm]

All-Star Magic and Comedy - Direct From San Francisco!
Comedy on the Square
This is one of those shows that the Fringe does a disservice to. There's nothing intrinsically or horribly wrong with it, but there's nothing strikingly right with it either. It is, undeniably, limp and half-arsed, and no-one is going to chose a quiet hour of unimpressive magic and unoffensive comedy with so many outstanding options available. Musician Kitten on the Keys, playing throughout the show, was a nice touch but her solo number, like so much of the show, was instantly forgettable. While Dan Cainer was something of a highlight - his song was truthful and entertaining - and Lynn Ruth Miller was wonderful as ever, even they couldn't lift the dead atmosphere. It pains me to say, but the show was toothless, uninspiring, soporific and charisma-free.
Zoo Southside, 1 - 25 Aug, 7.45pm (8.45pm), £8.00 (£6.00), fpp 24.
tw rating 2/5
[vp]

Clive James In The Evening
Jeremy Meadow
Clive James is a well-respected personality who obviously still has his fans, but this is a woeful and tedious show from an entertainer well past his prime. Ostensibly promoting his book, 'Cultural Amnesia', James makes a terribly contrived running joke about getting around to reading from it, and repeatedly affirms that he's not a stand-up act, which is very apt, as the show is neither very funny nor very stimulating. Delivered in a static, mumbling drawl, Clive's various meandering observations and anecdotes are topical, but there's nothing particularly insightful or original here, and the show would probably be just as out of place in the Book Festival as it is the comedy section of the fringe programme.
Assembly @ The Queen's Hall, 19 - 24 Aug, 7.30pm (8.45pm), prices vary, fpp 39.
tw rating 2/5
[rj]

Lemon Custard - Free
Dee Custance / PBH's Free Fringe
The Free Fringe is always a mixed bag, but it's free, so you take a gamble, and here, the gamble pays off. Lemon Custard is a brilliant little show, featuring some excellent young stand-ups and superb free home-made ice cream. Dee Custance is a delightful host, very funny, and charming in that eccentrically whimsical and insecure way that seems so fashionable these days. The various acts deliver exuberant, assured comedy that thoroughly entertains. It's not constantly hilarious, as these guys are a bit raw and obviously trying out some new material, but you'll be hard pressed to find a better free afternoon in the back room of a pub.
The White Horse, 5, 12, 19 Aug, 2.55pm (3.50pm), free, fpp 72.
tw rating 4/5
[rj]

Isabel Fay: Don't Let A Gift Horse In The House
Isabel Fay
The most pertinent thing I can say about Isabel Fay is that she looks a hell of a lot like Charlotte Church - minus the pregnancy, of course. And although Charlotte's very pretty, it is a sad day when the only redeeming thing about a comedian is that they happen to look like a famous person. Fay is a talented character actress, but her material largely stinks. Indeed, at one point she does a skit about a racist beauty queen who hits her face during a synchronised swimming routine, and then, to my horror, proceeds to spit fake blood dangerously close to the audience. Either I have lost my laugh at the Fringe, or this is simply not funny.
Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, 4.45pm (5.45pm), prices vary, fpp 62.
tw rating 2/5
[rsj]

Of Mics And Men
James Agha/Toby Brown/Alex Warren/PBH?s Free Fringe
Quite a snappy title I thought, perhaps some intelligent comedy is on the agenda? Not on your Nelly! With a variety of acts performing throughout the festival, it really just depends on the night as to what delights lie in store for you. The night I went I found that Gemma was calm, collected and pretty funny whereas her male counterparts were rude and vulgar with no really humorous material; there are only so many anal sex jokes one can take. The male team was also really let down by the compere who was just awful, and even admitted to being so. There were definitely laughs generated, however, my friends could probably produce more whilst casually sitting in the pub.
Voodoo Bar, 3 - 23 Aug, 5.45pm (6.45pm), free, fpp 83.
tw rating 2/5
[mi]

DANCE AND PHYSICAL THEATRE

The Hopes And Dreams Of Other Lives
Wirksworth INdependDANCE
It's a rare thing to see a youth group well directed, but it happens here, as the company produce a solid piece of dance theatre that caters to the varying age and skill levels of the cast. The first part tells the story of 'Sadako And The Thousand Cranes' through clear and simple choreography that is loaded with running and twirling, but nonetheless contains some beautiful stage pictures, especially the large canvas crane. The second piece, 'The Dream', is more confusing. An unclear relationship develops between a little girl and a dancer. Roll out the high-school production: colourful ribbons, neutral masks, and a projection follow, being employed seemingly without reason. These performers don't have the flexibility or athleticism of professional dancers, but they pull off simple choreography to good effect.
Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House, 16 - 22 (not 17), 11.30pm (12.30pm), £6.00 (£4.00), fpp 116.
tw rating 3/5
[zl]

EVENTS

Meditation For Beginners
St Patrick's Community
Stressed by the Fringe? I know I was. Drowning your problems in alcohol? Me too, but that was before I went to meditation for beginners. St Patrick's polished pews and pleasant priests produce a pacifying place to promote personal peace. In addition to alcohol, alliteration and assonance addictions are an added affliction. The introduction is very easy to follow both due to the speaker's soothing voice and the tranquil setting, whilst the periods of silence are only short, apparently to stop meditation virgins freaking out. This isn't an attempt by St Patrick's to gain more believers, although God does rear his head - there's a short reading about the breath of life - but the short chant we do is ambiguous with no mention of God.
St Patrick's Church, 18 - 22 Aug, 4.00pm (4.45pm), free, fpp 128.
tw rating 3/5
[se]

Traditional Scottish Ceilidh
Heeliegoleerie
Being a wee Scottish lass myself I think it's safe to say that the Scots have a unique energy. A ceilidh is exactly the place that this energy is shared. Needless to say this was no exception! A good mix of different ages and nationalities were in attendance, all united in the act of dancing, stumbling and getting it wrong. The venue, however, was ill suited to the task, as it was cramped and hampered by pillars supporting the upstairs balcony. The lack of floor space meant that many of the less experienced were put off giving it a bash through fear of bumping into someone. Despite this, a good night was had, especially by the Leicester students who loved the whole experience!
The Lot, 4, 11, 18 Aug, 9.00pm (11.30pm), £8.00 (£7.00), fpp 130.
tw rating 4/5
[mi]

MUSIC

Adam Bulley & Malcolm MacFarlane
Malcolm MacFarlane
It was abundantly clear to me that I'd very quickly run out of floral, fawning adjectives for this review. Not only did these top class jazz finger-style guitarists barely put a foot (finger or fret) wrong, but their perfectly complementary partnership was one of delicacy, and understatement. The rare paradox of being unpretentious and subtle in playing, and yet simultaneously mesmeric, was witnessed very early into their set as their beautifully intricate fretplay worked over numbers by Wes Montgomery, Egberto Gismonti, The Beatles to calypso, ballads to blues. Displaying at times a sheer exuberant joy, Bulley and MacFarlane are immense talents, wonderful to watch, and very difficult to praise without sounding like the guitar idolising fan-boy I am.
Acoustic Music Centre @ St Brides, 15 - 18 Aug, 9.00pm (10.00pm), £10.00 (£8.00), fpp 138.
tw rating 5/5
[ab]

Beyond Breaking Glass
Hazel O'Connor with Cormac De Barra
An emotional journey through one woman's turbulent journey to stardom, 'Beyond Breaking Glass' is a musical narrative through the exciting world of rock and roll, and Hazel O'Connor's journey towards contentment. Her husky voice is soothing, and the dulcet tones of Cormac de Barra's harp are the perfect accompaniment, expressing her new- found love of folk inspired music. Her life story is fascinating, and although fashioning a show around her life story may be construed as solipsistic - especially as she name-drops celebrities such as David Bowie and Iggy Pop - the overall feel of the show is uplifting, and the musical pairing of O'Connor and O'Barra is beautiful, notwithstanding the stories behind it.
Universal Arts Centre, 16- 18 Aug, times vary, prices vary, fpp 141.
Tw rating 3/5
[af]

Fribo
If ever there was a soundtrack to my life, this is what I would want it to be. Fribo, the labour of three musicians hailing from Norway, Scotland and England, have blended Norwegian and Scottish folk to create a sound of almost magical proportions. If the room hadn't been full of people, I most likely would have been jumping about the floor like an idiot (dancing is not my forte) and, judging by all the movement going on around me, I'm in no doubt the rest of the audience were thinking the same. The musical equivalent of finding a tenner in your coat pocket you never knew you had, this band are, for lack of a better word, awesome.
Acoustic Music Centre@St Brides, 18 Aug, 9.00pm (10.15pm), £10.00 (£8.00), fpp 150.
tw rating 5/5
[zh]

Miraculous Mandolin
Alison Stephens
What a wonderful way to spend an hour. I'm no classical Mandolin expert, but to listen to the exceptional Alison Stephens pick and strum at her three beautiful beetle-shaped Mandolins was a pure delight. With intervals of explanation we were led through a classical journey from the traditional to the experimental, with endearing anecdotes thrown in along the way. Although I was on average 40 years younger then the rest of the audience, the vast variety of sounds and atmospheres evoked by Stephens' playing transcended age or setting, and left me wanting more. In fact, if I could start all over again, being a professional mandolin player seems like quite an attractive option.
St Andrew's and St George's Church, dates vary, times vary, £8.00 (£6.00), fpp 158.
tw rating 4/5
[ow]

The Jake Fryer Quartet UK Tour
Jake Fryer Quartet With Special Guest Ben Greenslade-Stanton
They did not so much blind or blaze through what should be called a purist's set of traditional early-20th century jazz but pussy-footed around, until midway through their first set. The often wayward trombone playing of Ben Greenslade-Stanton did mire the performance further, but once in their element the quartet showed they could absolutely hit it; outstanding, solid drumming from the inimitable 'Corporal Punishment', impressive piano runs, and mostly consistent sax lines from Fryer who comfortably lead the group. In that cloudy jazz zone, running through the classics 'Anthropology', or 'Green Dolphin Street', the quintet were especially good - otherwise, unfortunately, they lacked the dynamism and funky vitality they seemed expected to effuse.
The Jazz Bar, 18 - 19 Aug, 11.00pm (12.30am), £5.00 (£3.00), fpp 154.
tw rating 3/5
[ab]

John Renbourn
NEM Productions
"Something's working," says Renbourn after his first few strums. "This is a real good sound!" And the former Pentangle man and folk legend is no liar. Even at 64, he still makes it look all so easy, as natural behind a guitar as Michael Phelps is in water. Like his former band mate, Bert Jansch, he has St. Bride's old church building full of music lovers who know only too well the skill of such nimble fingers. Those nimble fingers cannot hide the fact that Renbourn's vocals have never quite matched Jansch's however, and it's clear the best works tonight are the epic instrumentals. It only makes me wish I was around to see Pentangle in their prime.
Acoustic Music Centre @ St. Bride's, 19 Aug, times vary, £15.00 (£12.00), fpp 155.
tw rating 3/5
[tm]

Metropolitan Cathedral Swingle Singers
Swingle Singers
If only the Swingle Singers had cut the first half of their programme, they would have lost their weakest material and wouldn't have ended their concert half an hour late. Few of the pieces used in their Battle of the Fugues section suited the breathy, over-amplified treatment they received. Classics such as Ravel's Bolero were delivered in a slick but passionless manner, accompanied by well-drilled but superfluous choreography and uniform smug grins. The performance improved somewhat in the second half as the group tackled more modern music, but there were still suspect harmonies, pitch problems and unpleasant tones on high notes. Less emphasis on beatboxing skills and more on basic technique might have made this a much better concert.
St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, 19 Aug, 7.30pm (9.30pm), £15.00 (£13.00), fpp 157.
tw rating 2/5
[jm]

Santogold
The Edge Festival
The recent hype and inevitable buzz that occurs when an artist is dubbed as the new queen of pop was evident as an eager, sweaty audience packed itself into the Liquid Rooms for an eccentric set. Santogold's electro -tinged sound was blended with catchy pop and a strong reggae vibe to produce an infectious and edgy fusion of genres. With frequent use of sirens and symmetrical, robotic dancers she conveyed a stylish statement. With only one album worth of songs to play the gig remained short, but given that the venue conditions resembled that of a rainforest, complete with a dripping roof, glazed faces and slightly delirious dancing, it was probably beneficial. Santogold is certainly a promising act, with a colourful charisma.
Liquid Room, 22 Aug, 7.00pm (10.00pm), £8.00, fpp 163.
tw rating 4/5
[am]

Xavier Rudd
The Edge Festival
Australian Singer/songwriter Xavier Rudd follows in the same tradition as Hawaiian musician Jack Johnson, creating a summery sound that reminds you of surfing and sunny beaches. However, he is more than simply a mimic, with a distinctive, soaring yet husky voice and exceptional instrumental talent. He plays three didgeridoos in different keys, provoking amazing vibrations, which, through the massive amps make your insides shake, and creates fantastic bass lines that get the crowd dancing and clapping along. It is clear he has a devoted following, packing out the Edinburgh Corn Exchange. Yet although his music is good fun and keeps the crowd happy, it is nothing really new. He's a great performer and a talented percussionist, he doesn't break the mould.
Edinburgh Corn Exchange, 19 Aug, 7.00pm (10.30pm), £12.50, fpp 167.
tw rating 3/5
[kk]

MUSICALS AND OPERA

Centenary Celebrations
The Bohemians Lyric Opera Company
The Bohemians, who were originally established by a customs and excise officer, celebrate their centenary year together with a raffle offering booze as the prize - all above board, of course. This is a gala concert of West End and Broadway numbers chosen from the wealth of wonderful musicals that the last century has bestowed upon us. It is a show of two halves, beginning with moving songs from classic musicals like 'West Side Story' and 'Fiddler on the Roof' and eventually progressing to light-hearted songs from contemporary shows like 'Legally Blonde' and 'Mamma Mia'. Individually, with each thoroughly accomplished soloist, and together in perfect choral unity, the Bohemians prove why they are likely to be around for another hundred years.
St. Andrew's & St. George's Church, 19 - 20 Aug, 7.30 pm, £8.00, fpp 169.
tw rating 4/5
[mb]

Cluedo
Poot Productions
In a badly lit venue, with weak singing and luminous hair, Colonel Mustard and co murder the songs of Lehrer, Kander and Ebb, among others. The real crime, though, is the musical's scrappy assembly, pilfering masterpieces from other shows and then destroying the precious cargo in transit and exhibition. The performances don't have the brilliance of the hair, but they don't lack energy and can be amusing; the masochism tango by Peacock and Green is worth watching, indeed Green's helium high voice is quite possibly the highlight of the show. A board game turned bored game, randomly filled with cherries picked from other shows that turn sour in the process.
Augustine's, 19 - 23 Aug, 12.45pm (2.15pm), £6.00 (£4.00), fpp 169.
tw rating 2/5
[se]

A Rocky Horror Night
Frankenstein Pub
Will this cult phenomenon from the 70's never end? I bloody hope not; it's always funny seeing men sing poorly in lingerie. The Frankenstein Pub is a perfect venue for this 'Rocky Horror' sing-along, and even the robotic Frankenstein made an appearance from the roof. Pop tunes from Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears jarred when they appeared during the breaks, but to his credit Dr Frank-N-Furter had an uncanny resemblance to Tim Curry and his 'Timewarp' really got the crowd jumping to the left. This night is not for everyone, as dedicated fans may be annoyed by the rowdy teens or overall lack of dressing up, but if you like the movie and enjoy a song and dance, go along with red lippy.
Frankenstein Pub, 4 - 27 Aug (Mon & Wed only), 11.00pm (1.00am), free non-ticketed, fpp 177.
tw rating 3/5
[zl]

THEATRE

Like A Rolling Stone
Demarco Rocket Productions
Shipwrecking a stockbroker called Todd so that he can confront his materialism somehow feels familiar, yet strangely irrelevant and just a little patronising, given that we are in the midst of this 'credit crunch'. The Cooperative Bank says money makes the world go round, so why depict one young man's miss-fortune (excuse the pun), especially if the root of his troubles is a woman? Well, this play does humanise (if champagne guzzling yuppies are in fact human) the face of corruption, and suggests material gain is a cover up for lack of human affection. But I doubt Sir Alan Sugar is worried about these things, and likewise, I consequently I found it hard to care for Todd, or his lack of love.
Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House, 11 - 23 Aug, 6.45pm (7.45pm), £8.50 (£6.50), fpp 212.
tw rating 2/5
[rsj]

Pirandello's Henry IV
Perse Players
One page thinks they're at the court of France's Henry IV, the other pages explain this is actually the German Henry IV of five centuries earlier. In fact it's 1922, Henry IV is an Italian, whose fall induced fantasy his friends and family have played along with for 18 years. Maybe I'm mad too, but I found the 11th Century way more captivating and believable than the 20th Century action - perhaps making the 'real' setting contemporary might've helped - but it was more the acting than the costumes at fault. The play dragged on like a royal function, failing to find any of the wit of Stoppard's translation. Vacuuming the stage with Henry the hoover was a suitably vacuous ending.
Space @ Venue 45, 18 - 23 Aug, 6.20pm (7.50pm), £8.00 (£5.00), fpp 224.
tw rating 2/5
[se]

Requiem For Robert Mugabe
Exit Theatre
Oh dear. This was probably one of the most embarrassing and awkward performances I have ever had to sit through. It was meant to be a political satire, using a Brechtian model. However, the play did not introduce different perspectives on Mugabe's dictatorship, nor was it in any way thought provoking. The concept just did not work at all. Instead, it was more like a very bad version of 'This Is Your Life'. The script was pretty awful and the songs failed to emphasise its important points, they way they are supposed to when they're Brechtian. The players were also completely unprepared - stumbling their way through the lines uncertainly. All in all, a pretty shambolic production.
The Space@The Thistle, 18 - 23 Aug, 2.10pm (2.55pm), £7.50 (£6.50), fpp 226.
tw rating 1/5
[lp]

Ruskin Live!
Paul O'Keefe
You are invited to travel back in time to the 19th century to experience, in its original form, a public lecture from the great John Ruskin. As a lecture experience it is interesting, and informative, and cannot be faulted, and neither can the performance by Paul O'Keefe which is perfection. However, the fault is not in the piece, but the changes in our society. We aren't used to sitting and watching an hour and a half of solid words without some film, images or theatre to break things up, and as a result the lecture feels too long, and struggles to keep the attention of many towards the end. Not for everyone, but an enjoyable learning experience.
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 18 - 22 Aug (not 20), 2.30pm (4.00pm), £6.00, fpp 227.
tw rating 3/5
[rh]

On Human Folly
Plain Quakers
Ever had the feeling you're in the wrong place? As I was greeted with a hearty "hello friend!", I realised that, despite being in the Fringe programme, this wasn't any old Fringe theatre: this was a play by Quakers, about Quakers, and was possibly really only aimed at Quakers. Looking at the life of John Woolman, an 18th century Quaker who worked to abolish the slave trade, this was more a history lesson than anything else, proved by the fact that the actors regularly came out of character to tell us a few biographical details. Loosely comparing his work to people's views on environmentalism, the two mature gentlemen discussed modern issues such as plastic bags and freeganism. I'd comment on the shaky acting, but it's hardly the point: this is education, not recreation.
Quaker Meeting House, 18-23 Aug, 4.30pm (5.30pm), £7.00 (£5.00), fpp 221.
tw rating 2/5
[gs]

The Transaction
2headedpigeon Theatre Company
An Iraqi sheep that speaks the truth isn't everyone's cup of tea. 'The Transaction' has a fascinating storyline, however, and brings up relevant and important contemporary political issues. Set in a hotel room in a British Army compound in Iraq, it questions how much we actually care about the 'greater good' and if that's enough. The 2headedpigeon Theatre Company present us with three central characters that care more about making money then rebuilding Iraq. Whilst their different ways of dealing with war and betrayal and the sexual dynamics between them are interesting, the play seemed too much like an action film. Their social and political messages were loud and clear and could have done with less screaming and more soft and subtle moments.
The Space On The Mile@The Radisson, 2 - 23 Aug (not 3, 10, 17), 6.45pm, £7.00 (£5.50), fpp 238.
tw rating 3/5
[ls]

Clive James in Conversation
Jeremy Meadow
Writer and broadcaster Clive James talks to a different guest each day, in this case ex-Labour MP Roy Hattersley. James interviews well, guiding the conversation and allowing his guest to be the focus, but he could have given more biographical detail in his introduction for the benefit of those of us who were still at primary school when Hattersley left politics. Baron Hattersley made his way through a variety of topics, from Clause Four to comprehensive education and being arrested for allowing his dog, Buster, to savage a goose. The audience discussion at the end could have gone on for longer, since people were keen to question Hattersley, apparently the only man whose 'Spitting Image' character ever actually spat!
Assembly @ George Street, 19 - 24 Aug, 4.30pm (5.30pm), prices vary, fpp 191.
tw rating 3/5
[jm]

InvAsian Festival: Dance Without Movement
Peshkar Productions
Death. Divorce. Religion. Arranged marriages. The Fashion Industry. All of these have influenced our leading lady as she grows up, and we see her coming to terms with her identity and the various roles she plays in her family, her career, and her society. As well as showcasing some great character acting, this one-woman show plays with colours, smells, stories, voices and scarves to bring different personae to life with a heart-felt emotion. The characters are ones we might all know from our own families; we relate to how she feels, and a well thought out set and music is used to good effect, making best use of the small performance space.
club WEST @ Quincentenary Hall, 3 Aug - 25 Aug, 6.00pm (6.50pm), £9.50 (£8.50), fpp 206.
tw rating 3/5
[fa]

La Tuerta
Memory Tree
Historical theatre can be great; it brings to life a world far removed from our own consciousness; one of courtly dances and strange allegiances, and, in this particular production, square-tipped manicures and terrible stage fighting. The sort that is so frustrating you want to join in. So who was Ana de Mendoza? From this representation a spoilt, calculating aristocrat, who was inexplicably loved. The sad thing is that under the dull script and stilted acting the story of Ana Mendoza was potentially very interesting, but all we saw was her moaning and complaining, sacrificing her children for her lover. This is too long and self-indulgent: Memory Tree need a script doctor and just one character the audience cares enough about to empathise with.
Bedlam Theatre, 18 - 23 Aug, 8.00pm (9.30pm), £8.50 (£7.50), fpp 211.
tw rating 1/5
[rs]

Message In A Bottle
Hathi Productions
Drunk people are irritating. 'Aymee Wynehouse' is not only annoying, but also the least convincing drunk I've ever had the misfortune to witness. At the start of the show, the audience are offered tequila or cider, presumably because the more brain cells you can kill beforehand, the less there are to sit through this awful, awful lesson about the perils of binge drinking. The best part is that, for about a third of the performance, the music is so loud as to completely drown out her voice, making it much easier to ignore the excruciating attempts at audience participation. The ham-fisted moral message at the end is so trite, so pitifully insincere, that I left wishing I'd accepted that tequila after all.
The Space@Jury's Inn, 18-23 Aug, 1.05pm (2.05pm), £4.00 (£3.00), fpp 215.
tw rating 1/5
[gs]

My Mother Said I Never Should
The Bubbly Theatre Company
Like childbirth, this was a laboured experience; four teenage girls struggled with the too difficult task of playing four generations of women with conviction, and the result is mediocre. The many scene changes are unnecessary and take too long, pushing the show to an unjustified length of an hour and a half. At times the actors create believable dramatic tension and poignant moments of childhood innocence, but this is fleeting and I was left to cringe at mimed action with tacky props that destroyed the realism of each scene. An unskilled director has set the bar too high for these emerging actors, resulting in an underwhelming experience that fails to move the audience as the well written script should.
Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House, 18 - 23 Aug, 2.55pm (4.25pm), £7.50 (£5.50), fpp 217.
tw rating 2/5
[zl]

Reviewer details are online at www.threeweeks.co.uk