A heavy day of drama in Edinburgh today!
Here’s the schedule for 24th August:
11.20 – Words Without Consent, Greenside @ Infirmary Street. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
“Following a tour across England, 2Gal are bringing their four-star political satire to Edinburgh Fringe. Words Without Consent tells two stories: an out of control debate, and two gals getting ready to go out (like, out-out.) Using both well-known political faux pas and those that have been swept under the rug, the play invites the audience to laugh at the ridiculous state of the current political landscape. But while a BoJo meme is well worth a share, should we be asking more from our leaders?”
A political start to the day – no idea what this will be like, but let’s hope it’s good.
UPDATE: Verbatim text of women in interviews combined with politicians’ comments on the role of women in society and the dangers faced daily from men. Extremely well staged, great use of video projections and two first rate performances. Take note of the trigger warnings; many of the things said in this production shake you to the core. A thrilling, appalling and vital work. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
13.25 – In Her Defence, The Space on North Bridge.
“London, 1947. A man is dead. His wife has killed him. As a court hears the evidence leading up to the murder, you’ll witness the disintegration of the couple’s marriage and discover the real, surprising truth.”
This sounds like a good old-fashioned court drama, and done well they can be unbeatable. So this could be great!
UPDATE: This Christie-style thriller has all the elements of a deceptively simple tale; extremely well written and pretty well told. It’s all taken at a leisurely to moderate pace, but that gives you time to try to solve the crime before the trial wraps up. You’re invited to spot all the Christie references in the plot – I got 4, but some of them are very loose! Good fun and engrossing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
15.50 – Candy, Underbelly Bristo Square.
“Do you believe in love at first sight? Will has fallen hopelessly in love with the seductive singer, Candy. The only problem: she’s his best mate in drag. As Will struggles to make sense of his newfound feelings, his life crumbles at the fringes. Should he seize life by his bollocks and tell Candy how he feels? Can he ever be with her? And what does loving her really mean? The sell-out London comedy-drama returns to the Fringe after a special online performance last year. ‘A raw exploration of love and identity’ ***** (Indiependent.co.uk). ‘Truly captivating’ **** (TheatreScotland.com).”
A funny twist on an old tale – this could be excellent. Here’s hoping.
UPDATE: Brilliant storytelling, both in Tim Fraser’s riveting play and Michael Waller’s spellbinding performance. At first, I thought the content of the play was going to position itself as some kind of analogy or symbol. But then I quickly decided it wasn’t that, it was just a straightforward story about a man falling in love with his mate, but only when Billy presents himself as Candy. Fascinating, thought-provoking, at times hilarious, at times deeply sad. We absolutely loved it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
17.55 – An Evening Without Kate Bush, Assembly George Square Studios.
“Howl with the hounds and dance on the moors! Kate’s not there, but you are. Following its sold-out 2019 Fringe premiere, touring and a Soho Theatre season, this smash-hit, award-winning show returns! Sarah-Louise Young and Russell Lucas pay glorious homage to the music, fans and mythology of one of the most influential voices in music. ‘You don’t need to be a Kate Bush fan to be transported into something very special’ **** (Scotsman). ‘Reinventing the tribute act’ ***** (Stage). ‘Joyful’ **** (Daily Telegraph). ‘Magnificent’ ***** (Attitude).”
We had tickets for this at our local theatre and then Covid had other ideas. So I am delighted finally to be able to see this show, which I’ve heard is great.
UPDATE: I didn’t really know what to expect from this show, but you come away from it with a spring in your step and gladness in your heart, as Sarah-Louise Young beguiles you into the world of Kate Bush fandom, presents some of her best loved songs in ways you have never seen before, and makes you desperate to go back to your old LPs before the night is out. She also does a pretty amazing vocal impersonation! Very inclusive and hugely enjoyable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
21.00 – Nish Kumar: Your Power, Your Control, Assembly George Square.
“It has been a period of upheaval and uncertainty with COVID and the political situation. You will be amazed by my capacity to somehow take all these things personally. Your Power, Your Control is a new show from the former host of Late Night Mash Report and one of The Guardian’s Top Top Fifty Comedians of the 21st Century. ‘Political zingers delivered with fizzing energy’ (Independent). ‘Kumar is the smartest, and often the silliest, political comic we’ve got: acute, furious and often the ridiculous fall guy of his own jokes’ ***** (Guardian).”
Another big comedy name that we’re finally going to be ticking off the list! It will be interesting to see if Nish Kumar is accomplished live as he is on TV.
UPDATE: Nish Kumar comes across as a naturally funny guy but also an angry one; years of racism have taken its toll on his mental health, and he shares some of that journey with us – and you get the feeling that the journey is far from over. But it’s not all doom and gloom – in fact it’s 98% hilarious observations about politics, terrible gigs and how much he loves Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Carr*. An occasionally bruising (and aggressive!) watch, but always rewarding.