Dummy in Diaspora, Zoo Playground.

Essa tells the story of his young life in America, his early understanding that he is gay, his first sexual encounters, his family life and other formative experiences. Esho Rasho, who also wrote the play, has an excellent stage presence and fully inhabits the character and gives a sensitive and powerful performance.

P.S. The performance we saw was ruined by engaging a stage photographer who, having moved some audience members out of their original seats so that she had a clear view of the stage, snapped away throughout the whole show so that it was impossible to concentrate. So when Essa was talking emotionally about his mother’s breast cancer, and even the death of the family cat, the noisy interruptions prevented the flow of emotion to reach the audience from the stage. I understand the desire to have production photos to promote the show for future audiences, but it is so disrespectful to the audience actually present.

The Book of Mountains and Seas, Pleasance Courtyard.

Archie and Andrew were going to get married, until, still young, Archie died a hero’s death saving others. Andrew is slowly getting over it, but his father, Raymond, is obsessed by Archie’s old Yelp account, the only thing that wasn’t deleted from Archie’s phone, where he reviewed 179 restaurants in New York. A fascinating and creative look at dealing with grief, it also raises very important issues about the social media presence of someone who has died, respect for their privacy after death, and continued relationships between the living who have no choice but to move on. This beautifully written and performed play touches the heart but is also full of laughter. Moving and inventive, yet still incredibly funny.

Nerine Skinner: The Exorcism of Liz Truss, Just the Tonic at the Caves.

Welcome to the ceremony where Nerrine Skinner will finally have the presence of Liz Truss exorcised from her body and brain. It’s a very amusing idea, and Ms Skinner does a terrific Liz Truss impersonation – her takes on Angela Rayner and Nadine Dorries are pretty good too. Plenty of audience participation if you’re sitting towards the front, so be warned! Sadly, although there is a lot of content here, most of it provokes the occasional wry chuckle rather than wholehearted laughter. I really wanted to enjoy this more than I did, but many of the comic ideas just peter out without achieving much.

Leni’s Last Lament, Assembly Rooms.

If there are two cultural icons whom we still associate with Nazi Germany, all these years later, they are Marlene Dietrich and Leni Riefenstahl. Falling in Love Again kicks off this extraordinary and provocative piece of theatre, which places Riefenstahl under the spotlight, taking us through her immensely successful and skilful career, and trying to come to a conclusion as to what extent she was culpable of what today we would call enabling or inciting Nazism. Jodi Markel gives a strong performance as Leni, showing her part in making Nazism palatable to the ordinary people of 1930s Germany, and requiring us to make an instant choice as to whether we don a Nazi armband – purely for the purposes of the show, naturally. The play confronts us with the reality of the growth of the Far Right today, and observing the reactions of one’s fellow theatregoers is a vital aspect of the production as a whole. Uncomfortable and challenging; but what is theatre for, if it doesn’t sometimes make us squirm in our seats?

Ghost Light, TheSpace at Niddry Street.

From the pen of Ian Tucker-Bell comes Ghost Light, a new Orange Works production, an atmospheric and thoroughly spooky ghost story set in Victorian London. Henry Webster joins the London Ghost Club seeking inspiration to write a ghost story of his own. There he meets Edward Price, who lives in the boarding bouse of the widowed Mia Sands. Webster also takes a room there, where he is astonished to discover the ghosts of two children who seem to be lost and scared of the dark. But who are these children, what is the secret of the locked door, and what part does resident John Henning also play in the ghosts of the household? Eerily staged in almost complete darkness save for a few lamps – or ghost lights – the tension kicks in within the first few seconds and doesn’t let up until all the secrets are revealed. Thrillingly acted by Philip Holden, Nick Blessley, Bizz Portlock, Pierse Stevens and Ian Tucker-Bell himself, this is a strong, old-fashioned ghost story in the finest Victorian tradition; and it’s just as well that it’s not on too late at night, or no one would get any sleep!

MILF and the Mistress, The Space at Niddry Street.

Just an ordinary suburban housewife, Ali lives with her wife, two sons, and various assorted pets. Successful (enough) at work, successful (enough) in her relationship, she’s as happy with her homelife as she might ever expect to be. Except that – if she were to take the time to analyse it – she’s just a bit bored, a bit unfulfilled; a bit too vanilla where she might just possibly be mint choc chip at the very least. With no desire to jeopardise her marriage, or be unfaithful, she just fancies a bit of BDSM. The prospect rather terrifies her, but with safe words at the ready, is there any harm in it? Jennifer Vuletic gives a sensational performance, full of vulnerability, daring, irony and a huge amount of humour in Jane Montgomery Griffiths’ hilarious yet moving one-woman play. It captivates you from the moment Jennifer Vuletic walks on stage and you remain hanging on her every word until the very end. Fantastic!

What’s on the slab for today?

Here’s the schedule for August 14^th.

11:30 – Dummy in Diaspora, Zoo Playground. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Poetic, hilariously relatable and raw coming-of-age tale of a Middle Eastern American boy, Essa, whose parents are refugees. Essa confesses the experience of growing up in a country that doesn’t have a place for him. Join Essa as he navigates sexuality, religion, the English language, the fleetingness of youth and a nicotine demon that won’t leave him alone. In a solo play told between different ages throughout his life, Essa gives us a soul-stirring exploration of identity and the pursuit of self-discovery in a world that feels indifferent. An honest testament to the eternal quest for belonging.”

I don’t think I could comprehend the sheer misery and confusion of being a refugee, and this sounds like the kind of play that should get across some of the concerns and agonies that are part and parcel of that status. One of those experiences that will hopefully broaden the mind.

13:05 – The Book of Mountains and Seas, Pleasance Courtyard.

“In this new play from award-winning writer Yilong Liu, a California dad arrives in New York to visit his late son’s last boyfriend to propose an impossible mission: visit all 179 restaurants reviewed on his son’s popular Yelp page in one weekend. What ensues is an adventure filled with clashing cultures, unlikely friendships, and the review of a lifetime.”

This sounds like a voyage into sheer fantasy and a most unusual and inventive topic for a play. If it works it should be brilliant!

14:40 – Nerine Skinner: The Exorcism of Liz Truss, Just the Tonic at The Caves.

“Debut hour from Funny Women Content Creator 2023 runner-up and Britain’s Got Talent Semi-Finalist. In 2022, politically unaware Nerine Skinner went viral for her parodies of Prime Minister Liz Truss. Outlasted in Downing Street by a lettuce, Liz Truss’s political relevance faded and the country moved on. But Nerine didn’t. Through hilarious, original, oddball characters, award-nominated political parodies and heartfelt storytelling, this is the story of Nerine trying to let go. Examining how holding onto the past and her unconventional upbringing led to an unhealthy codependency with the former Prime Minister.”

A bit of a punt here, as I haven’t seen Nerine Skinner’s Liz Truss comedy parodies – but judging from the promotional photo alone I think this will be hilarious!

17:25 – Leni’s Last Lament, Assembly Rooms.

“In Leni’s Last Lament, which swept top awards at the United Solo Festival, Hitler’s controversial filmmaker, Leni Riefenstahl, attempts to sanitize her past. Comic and timely, this play will shock and delight you.”

Another very clever idea for a play. It will be fascinating to discover to what extent Leni Riefenstahl was exploited by the Third Reich, or was she as guilty as the rest of them? Another one of those plays that should plug a gap in one’s general knowledge.

19:20 – Ghost Light, theSpace @ Niddry St.

“’I think if you’re going to write a ghost story worth its salt you must experience ghosts for yourself’. In 1865 Henry Webster joins the notorious London Ghost Club, hoping to meet and be inspired by Charles Dickens. There he encounters Edward Price, who draws Henry into investigating a haunting at a lodging house belonging to the widowed Mia Sands. At night, the ghosts of two young children wander the house in search of light – while fearing what waits for them in the darkness. Why would a ghost be afraid of the dark?”

I was very impressed with Ian Tucker Bell’s play Locusts at last year’s Fringe, and this is his latest play, so I’m keen to see more of his writing talent! I’m expecting this to be a rather traditional Victorian ghost story – we may have to keep the light on overnight!

20:20 – MILF and the Mistress, theSpace @ Niddry Street.

“Ali is living the rainbow family dream – but something is missing. It’s a need her wife doesn’t understand, a sexual fantasy suppressed her whole life. Now, suburban swinging, latex and literary eroticism collide, sending her on a hilarious quest to fulfil her darkest desires. A powerhouse solo performance by Australian theatre luminary Jennifer Vuletic, in a darkly hilarious play by Jane Montgomery Griffiths. A story for anyone who wonders if not now, when? ‘Writing is clever, cutting and poignant’ ***** (TheatreMatters.com.au). ‘Brilliant and thought-provoking’ ***** (DarkStoriesTheatre.com.au). ‘Vuletic is magnetic’ **** (Age, Melbourne).”

This feels like a rather bold way to end the evening, but it comes with some terrific reviews, so let’s be daring and give it a try!

Check back later to see how we enjoyed all these shows!