Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – Lena, Sooz Kempner: Y2K Woman, Walking Home, and Frank Skinner: 30 Years of Dirt

Posted on August 22, 2023 by therealchrisparkle

Lena, Assembly George Square.

The staging of this show reveals the two opposing aspects of Lena Zavaroni’s life in sharp contrast. On one side of the stage is a platform with a band, and the name LENA large in lights; on the other, a modest living room with a small TV and past-their-best armchairs. This simple, unsophisticated upbringing did not prepare her for the excesses of showbiz. When Lena Zavaroni was taken away from the family to start her career with an unprecedented five-week victory on Opportunity Knocks! no one could have foreseen the future. It looked like a golden, star-studded fast route to success – but, in fact, it was child abuse. Tim Whitnall’s movingly written, superbly performed musical play starts with Lena awaiting her last chance surgery; then Hughie Green introduces scenes from her life, starting with her being spotted at a Rothesay club, through TV stardom, hit records and international success; all of which came to an end with Lena’s increasing Anorexia. Erin Armstrong is simply brilliant as Lena, with terrific performances from Alan McHugh and Julie Coombe as her conflicted, ineffectual parents, Helen Logan as her manipulative manager and Jon Culshaw as Hughie Green. A fascinating, immensely sad piece – I remember Lena Zavaroni’s early successes well, seeing her on television and buying her records; but would any of us have done those things and supported her career if we had known what it was doing to her brain? Failed by everyone around her, this is a tough story immaculately told.

Sooz Kempner: Y2K Woman, Underbelly Bristo Square.

Sooz Kempner is on cracking form as she takes us back to New Year’s Eve 1999, and wonders what she would tell her 14-year-old self about how her life would develop. This is a fast, slick and very funny show that touches on loads of topics and each time the humour lands home. Crammed with callbacks, both verbal and visual, and with superbly original material. Absolutely first rate, loved every minute.

Walking Home, Gilded Balloon Teviot.

What happens when, one morning, someone at your office doesn’t come in as expected? They haven’t telephoned to say they’re unwell, and this behaviour is most out of character. Then HR send an urgent email to all staff recommending safety training. Gradually it is revealed that they have been attacked when walking home the previous night. Prickly Pear Productions have created this devised performance, based on the testimonies of around forty people. Each of the four characters has a short sequence when they come out of character and address the audience directly, asking about our experiences relating to personal safety and sexual assaults. The main message that comes through is that there is always something that we can all do to make life safer for everyone; there’s always some help one can offer. However, I think the play is written in a rather manipulative way; it’s designed to make us all think one thing, and then make us feel guilty for thinking it. The play obviously comes from a good place, but it could probably do with a little refinement.

Frank Skinner: 30 Years of Dirt, Assembly George Square.

Frank Skinner has us all in the palm of his hand right from the start, with his masterful, gentle pace which masks a devastatingly wicked sense of humour. The hour is packed with brilliant, original material that he glides through with effortless determination. A complete masterclass in comedy.

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 22nd August 2023

Posted on August 21, 2023 by therealchrisparkle

Only four shows today – a nice mix of drama and comedy!

Here’s the schedule for 22nd August:

12.35 – Lena, Assembly George Square. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“1974. 10-year-old singing sensation Lena Zavaroni rockets to stardom on Opportunity Knocks, ITV’s top talent show. 25 years later, we discover a very different Lena, one for whom the glory days are long gone. Exploring what had happened to her in the intervening years reveals a wholly contrasting story. Written by BAFTA and Olivier award-winner Tim Whitnall and directed by Paul Hendy, Lena, a compelling play with music, features a live band and five-strong cast, starring Erin Armstrong as Lena and Jon Culshaw as TV’s original Mr. Starmaker, Hughie Green.”

I remember what a big star Lena Zavaroni was in the early days – and how tragically her life developed. I think this could be quite a sad play, but I’m looking forward to it nonetheless.

15.10 – Sooz Kempner: Y2K Woman, Underbelly Bristo Square.

“The award-winning, viral sensation returns with a brand-new hour following her sell-out 2022 run. As the year 2000 approached, Sooz was about to turn 15 and the PlayStation 2 was about to launch… it was a new beginning for the world. But with the Millennium Bug, was the world also about to end!? Now, almost a quarter of a century later, things feel eerily similar… New millennium, video games, Alanis Morissette… a show for anyone who remembers the year 2000 or had big dreams as a kid. ‘Kempner has funny bones’ **** (Scotsman). ‘Brilliant’ (LA Times).”

I’d heard a lot about Sooz Kempner in the past until last year we saw her for the first time and she’s every bit as good as I’d hoped. Can’t wait for this!

17.30 – Walking Home, Gilded Balloon Teviot.

“It’s just another day in the office when news that a colleague has been sexually assaulted reaches the boardroom. Emotions run high, but deadlines need to be met. Walking Home is a devised performance exploring the politics and tensions within the issue of sexual violence against women and people of marginalised genders. Shedding a light on the community’s role in this conversation, it’s built on real experiences collected from people of diverse genders, nationalities and walks of life.”

Another play that tackles an important issue for our times, I hope it’s enlightening and bold. Should be good!

20.50 – Frank Skinner: 30 Years of Dirt, Assembly George Square.

“A highly anticipated brand-new hour from comic legend Frank Skinner (‘King of stand-up’ (Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard)), following his sell-out hit Showbiz. ‘Frank Skinner has funny bones… even at the top of the comedy tree it’s rare to see his sort of fast-thinking but slow-talking instinctual wit…’ (Dominic Maxwell, Times). ‘Doing what he does best… the gags just keep on coming. Stand-up’s coming home’ (Mark Wareham, Mail on Sunday). ‘Skinner is warm, impeccable company and his way with a punchline is masterful… a delight.’ (Paul Fleckney, Guardian).”

Second time lucky for the return of Frank Skinner with the show that he was due to bring to the Edinburgh Fringe last year but couldn’t because of a family health issue. Hopefully now he’s back and on terrific form!

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

Eurovision 2011 – The Grand Final

Posted on April 6, 2011 by therealchrisparkle

So we’ve cogitated and pondered at length over the songs in the two semi finals but we still need to consider the Big Five. Oddschecker.com range of odds as at 5th April.

France – Sognu – Amaury Vassili

Song Sung Corse, every contest needs one. I’m not a popera fan but this is something else. Whether you think of it as an aria or a hymn, its haunting tune stays with you and if ever a song warranted the return of the orchestra, this is the one. The introduction is so Bolero that all it lacks is Torvill and Dean. Not sure we’ve seen him do a live performance of it yet, let’s hope it doesn’t unRavel (geddit?) He is (was) the world’s youngest proper tenor, apparently. Think it’s going to do really well. 9-2 to 11-2

Italy – Madness of Love – Raphael Gualazzi

Well an official Hoorah from me at the welcome return of la Bella Italia to the Eurovision fold. Of course, they already have their world renowned San Remo festival, and they chose the winner of the Newcomers’ Category to go to Düsseldorf. “Follia d’Amore”, in its original state, is taken from his second album. It’s ok. It’s quite nice. It doesn’t shake any trees. It’s a cheeky jazz-lite, the kind of stuff I don’t really like. You might though. 28-1 to 50-1

United Kingdom – I Can – Blue

Let’s start by saying it’s a great improvement on recent years – the strongest UK song for possibly a decade. I have my fingers crossed for the performance but I am concerned about Lee’s vocals. He really has to nail them. I love the “G-G-G-Get back up again, Woh!” motif. They’ve done a lot more homework than many previous UK entries and are promoting themselves round the continent, although it was a shame they couldn’t sing the song in the early days of their travels. I trust they will keep their kit on when they’re on stage. Modestly optimistic. 5-1 to 9-1

Germany – Taken by a Stranger – Lena

So was it wise for Lena to defend her title? This is a good song but it’s introverted and private. It doesn’t have the same immediate impact as Satellite, needing several plays to grow on you, and I think it will struggle to make the top ten. The lyrics are somewhere between weird and oblique and you can’t identify with them. No doubt she’ll give a stylish performance though. 8-1 to 12-1

Spain – Que me quiten lo bailao – Lucia Perez

This is a jolly party song, but a bit on the slight side. Probably more woh’s than it needs. Nobody can take away the good times Lucia’s had and why would you want to. She’s probably a hoot in the Plaza Major at midnight. I just think it’s going to come across a bit lightweight on the night. 50-1 to 200-1

So that’s all the songs run through. I’m perfectly happy with the standard this year, there are some pretty good ones there and lurking behind in National Finals land.

And who do I think will join them from the Semis? OK my stabs at premonition are as follows:

In alphabetical order:

Semi Final One – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Turkey.

Semi Final Two – Bosnia, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Israel, FYR Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine.

Next step in the Eurovision pre-season is the Eurovision in Concert show being held in Amsterdam on Saturday 9th April. More Eurovision blogging after that event.