Jess, TheSpace at Surgeons’ Hall.
We often forget that those who work very long hours in the NHS with highly responsible jobs make huge sacrifices in order to perform their miracles. Take Jess, for instance. She’s a cardiothoracic surgeon – much to the enormous pride of her mum. She’s good at her job and she’s motivated and devoted to helping people and saving lives. But when endless late night urgent operations mean she can’t go home to enjoy the delicious meal that her partner has worked hard to provide; or when she works so hard that she doesn’t notice her mother’s declining health, you know something is just not right. Stephanie Perry gives a moving, heartfelt portrayal of Jess, juggling the needs of the NHS with her own relationships and desires. A simple story effectively told.
FAN/GIRL, Summerhall.
Bryony has always loved football. Fortunately, they didn’t mind you wearing team shirts at primary school, so whilst her friend Martha sported an Arsenal shirt, Bryony stayed a little more non-committal with an England strip. Stephen’s frankly rubbish at football, but that doesn’t stop the two of them from being Best Friends. But when primary gives way to secondary, girls’ football is not an option and new bestie Elle encourages her to use make-up to become more feminine and to conform with the sexual stereotypes that are so influential, even at that very young age. What is a Fan/Girl to do when all around her are the trappings of fashionable girlhood but all she wants to do is pray to her hero Eric Cantona? Bryony Byrne’s Fan/Girl is an unpredictable, inventive plunge into 1990s schooldays, with the audience invited to join in with soccer matches, application of cosmetics and “becoming” several cultural heroes of the time: it was my honour to be granted the non-speaking role of H from Steps (as well as the Gascoignesque water squirter and match commentator!) Lots of fun and games but also making some serious statements about how girls are channelled in one direction rather than giving them the freedom to make their own choices.
Come Dine With Me: The Musical, Underbelly Bristo Square.
We all know the format for Come Dine With Me the TV show – four diametrically opposed chefs “entertain” the others during a culinary soiree, followed by a grumbling session when they say how awful the others’ cooking is, and begrudgingly offer a subsequent score out of ten. If everyone’s nice to each other it’s no more than pap TV. If, however, there’s a bit of resentment, jealousy or – dare I say it – sabotage, up go the viewing figures and another series gets commissioned. Come Dine With Me The Musical takes this very idea, as our boisterous and ambitious producer, Mary, accompanies the team of Roy (camera) and Teddy (sound) to the backwater village of Little Stonking, to record the efforts of pretentious Barbara whose meals are all in French, vegan Ernest, pork pie king Duncan and Janey – who just happened to know Teddy at school. When the courses start to take a taste for the worst, is sabotage on hand, and if so, who is to blame? Aaron King and Sam Norman’s musical is full of entertaining tunes, and some terrific performances, notably from Harry Chander as Teddy, Kim Ismay as the hilariously affected Barbara, and Danielle Coombe as Mary. Nothing too challenging, just a feelgood musical with lots of humour – and a happy ending!
Rhys Nicholson: Huge Big Party Congratulations!, Underbelly Bristo Square.
You certainly get great value for money from a Rhys Nicholson gig; from the moment they come on stage, they barely take a breath, with their wonderfully funny observations from the best way to scare a straight man to how you get your revenge on your relatives when their kids jump on your bed at 5am on Christmas Morning. A very slick and shrewd operator, the hour flies by with apparent effortless ease – but I expect it takes a lot of skill and planning to deliver a set this smoothly. Very funny indeed – highly recommended.
Adam Flood: Back of the Spoon, Monkey Barrel Comedy at The Tron.
Adam Flood’s new show is entitled Back of the Spoon because when you look at the back of a spoon it gives you a distorted image of reality. I had expected it to be similar to Back of the Net as in scoring a goal, but seen in terms of cutlery – what do I know? Recently single again, he’s still living in the same place – but, of course, it now feels different. The other major element of the show is his father, who has recently been revealed to be a secret serial Trip Advisor reviewer, where everything gets five stars; must be a contented chap. Adam Flood is a naturally funny guy, with a confident delivery and a very likeable stage persona. For me, in this show, his material was a little lacking, and it didn’t have quite the same laugh-a-minute quality as before. But he can’t hide his quick wit and attention to detail which comes to the fore with his excellent crowd work, ensuring you have a good time.