Apples in Winter, Paradise in the Vault.

There’s nothing more wholesome than Mom’s Apple Pie and there’s no one with a bigger heart than Robert’s mother, who has devoted her life to giving her son the best possible start in life, full of love, security and natural home cooking. So it’s no surprise that we see her, making an apple pie for her son – the last one he will ever have; even if he doesn’t eat it, he will at least see it, smell it and recognise the love that created it. Jennifer Fawcett’s Apples in Winter is a riveting, emotional, elegantly written and truly honest play that plots the course of Robert’s life from birth to the present day, all seen through the eyes of his mother. An extraordinary performance by Edie Campbell takes us through all the emotions and lays bare a wounded heart that’s trying to make sense of it all. Acting and cooking at the same time too, which is always fascinating to watch! Unquestionably a must-see. 5 stars.

Mortal Sin, Gilded Balloon Teviot.

Growing up in sleepy Cundannon in the early 1960s is a playground for young Colm and Peggy, so long as you keep on the right side of the Church. When JFK is assassinated, it only seems fair that they have a day off school to celebrate, I mean mourn. Staging a protest makes sense – they’re sure Sister Assumpta will see sense, right? Perhaps the two will develop into long term childhood sweethearts; or perhaps they will have other ideas. Isolde Fenton and Benjamin Reilly play the two young best friends as they develop from primary school into adulthood. It’s very hard to play young children convincingly, but these actors have it nailed. Peggy is smart, bold, decisive and cheeky, whilst Colm is laid back, reticent, and – let’s face it – a bit thick. We laugh with them, we share their ambitions, and we see tragedy through their eyes. Precisely and wittily written by Benjamin Reilly, this is an emotional account of two young rural Irish people preparing to conquer the world. 5 stars.

The Past, Underbelly Bristo Square.

Fishing 4 Chips bring their trademark inventive comic lunacy to their new sketch show, The Past – in other words, any subject that has already happened is eligible for inclusion. From the dawn of time to December 1999, the guys present 27 short, hilarious sketches dealing with burning issues like who erected Stonehenge to the death of Abraham Lincoln and the true lyrics of Do They Know It’s Christmas. There is a lot of very good-natured audience participation, and Freddie Walker and Sean Wareing are quick-witted enough to deal with anything that the audience throws at them. Using the entire auditorium, the irrepressible duo know no boundaries to make us laugh. Sketch comedy at Edinburgh can be very hit or miss, but this is one of those rare beasts where there are no misses! Beware of flying beachballs! 5 stars.

Millicent Sarre is Too Tired to Smash (Patriarchy), Assembly Roxy.

Millicent Sarre presents a cabaret-style show of her own songs, some accompanied by her partner and guitarist, Cameron. Her subject: burnout, and how it is a feminist issue. Her songwriting is poignant, heartfelt, frequently funny, sometimes sad, and always resoundingly feminist. She has a stunning voice that not only gets into the funny bones of life’s ridiculousness but also expresses deep emotion. She keeps you permanently engaged with all her songs; if I have a criticism, it is that she starts and ends the show with upbeat tunes, but the songs in between are a little bit similar in tone and style – that said, it encourages you to concentrate on the lyrics, which are always rewarding. A very classy entertainment that has its heart in the right place. 4 stars.

Spare Room, TheSpace on the Mile.

Based on a true story, Georgina Housby and Sam Dinnage’s play centres on Jodie, the sole female housemate in a house of six young people. The other five lads drink, take drugs, sleep around and live in a mess – all to chaotic, toxic excess. Any decent codes of conduct are suppressed under the umbrella of banter, so Jodie’s survival tactic is if you can’t beat them, join them. However, there’s only so much consequence-free living that can take place before real harm is caused. It’s a bleak story which offers a dismal view of modern youth; I must say it made me feel good to be older! That said, it’s very well written and constructed, and the cast of eight give an excellent ensemble performance in a relatively confined space. I can’t honestly say I enjoyed it – but I don’t think it’s necessarily a play you’re meant to enjoy. At the end of the performance, the cast hand out leaflets by Heads Up Guys, with information on men’s mental health – an important message for young audiences to embrace. 4 stars.

Tom Little in his Comfort Zone, PBH’s Free Fringe @ Voodoo Rooms.

The message behind Tom Little’s new show – In his Comfort Zone – is that, contrary to popular opinion, men shouldn’t talk more about their mental health. Nothing if not controversial! We learned the definition of Britpop, what makes a good listener, and the significance of crisps in the family unit. Tom has a unique style of delivery – quirky, with added jitters – and probably gets through twice the number of words that the average comedian employs, and therefore has to have double the content. We were a rather small audience, which probably didn’t give Tom’s material the chance to shine that it deserved; but he’s a likeable lad and it’s worth taking a Free Fringe punt on him! 3 stars.