Holly Street, The Space on The Mile.
It’s the 35th anniversary of much-loved soap Holly Street, and the writing team gather to flex their creative muscles. Arthur, the leader of the team, has even procured a brand-new whiteboard on which to flesh out their ideas. They’re an ill-matched group, with their own powerplays, bickering, and bullying that both helps and hinders their efforts. However, it soon becomes clear that today is no ordinary script meeting, as the outside world starts to impinge on their office in extremely surreal ways… Lewis McLauchlan’s Holly Street has a clever central concept rooted in fantasy/sci-fi, plays many meta cards making it an unpredictable experience, and he has created some over-the-top characters who are given appropriately over-the-top performances. However, sometimes less is more, and this would have benefited from a calmer, less manic approach. 2 stars.
A Covert Affair, The Space on The Mile.
A male British agent and a female Russian agent meet on an assignment – each has to get as much information as possible about what the other knows to satisfy their demanding superiors. She has no qualms about trapping him in a sexual relationship if that is what it takes to get the job done; he has no problems with being sexually approached. Are they double-crossing each other, or is this love? Some neat writing intriguingly develops the story and the characters, although I found the prurience of the British boss hard to believe. One of the actors is too softly spoken, making it hard to hear everything said, but it’s still an enjoyable tale, entertainingly told. 3 stars.
I Was a German, Zoo Southside.
Clare Fraenkel’s grandfather was at the cinema in Berlin in 1933 when a stranger whispered to him that the Gestapo were waiting for him at his flat and that he should escape to Paris while he could. Clearly not easily fazed, this didn’t stop him from attending the party to which he had been invited; but then, when the party was over, he got on a train to Paris and never looked back. Ninety years later, Clare is at the German embassy claiming German citizenship. It’s as though the family has come full circle. But what has brought her to this place, and what made him reject his homeland even after it was safe to go back? This fascinating dramatic analysis of national identity and the differences between then and now brings the brave and resilient Heinz to life and poses some difficult questions about Britain and Europe today. Is the UK the same welcoming country it always has been? At what point do you know that it’s time to abandon your country? Clare is a dynamic and authoritative communicator, and you leave the theatre better informed but uncertain of the future. 4 stars.
Piano Smashers, The Space at Surgeon’s Hall.Our host Rob Thompson has his pride and joy – a Parker piano that occupies his living room – except that he’s already moved it to a recording studio so he can preserve the sound of his playing it for eternity. But when you tie up all your love and affection into one item, what happens if it should accidentally get damaged? A gentle, reflective play that seeks to find a solution to those inherited items or behavioural patterns that drag us down and prevent us from growing or developing. For Sam and Jo, it’s the problem of what to do with their parents’ piano – but it could be anything for anyone. With some fun audience participation – yours truly ended up playing the part of Jo and masterminding the delivery of the piano onto the stage – something from this play will resonate in your own life and might help you see things from a different perspective. Also: no pianos were smashed during our performance! 3 stars.
Motorhome Marilyn, Gilded Balloon Patter House.Denise Jarvis is more than just a Marilyn Monroe impersonator, she’s an obsessive. Living in a motorhome, she nevertheless covers her walls and furniture with images of her hero; and she’s not alone because she has her pet snake, Bobby, to keep her company. But Denise has a secret to keep, and when a police detective refuses to leave her alone, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Michelle Collins makes her Edinburgh debut in this absorbing play by Ben Weatherill and the late Stewart Permutt and gives a convincing portrayal of Denise, trying to cling on to her chosen way of life despite the pressures from outside. Fully booked for the entire run, but an extra performance has gone on sale for 23rd August. 4 stars.
Matt Forde: Defying Calamity, Pleasance Courtyard.
A classic fifty minutes of extremely funny political stand-up with Matt Forde, whose remarkable vocal impersonations are enhanced by his terrific facial expressions; Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, Angela Rayner, Ed Milliband – even the King all get their turns with Mr Forde’s tremendous political gags and observations. He also doesn’t shy away from his own brush with mortality, with a truly hilarious sequence about one of the more regrettable side effects of his treatment. I didn’t stop laughing the entire time. 5 stars.
Kieran Hodgson: Voice of America, Pleasance Courtyard.For as long as he can remember, Kieran Hodgson has been entranced by the thought of America. He loved the movies, he loved the inspirational speeches of JFK, he loved the idea of the bright lights and the notion of the Land of the Free. And he loved the accents, which gave him extra confidence when he won the role of Sandwich Man in the movie The Flash. Voice of America is his exploration of what it means to be American, what he feels about the America of his youth and the America of today, and how America influences the rest of the world. Kieran Hodgson has a smart but relaxed comic delivery, and an engaging, confiding style; and although the structure of the show feels effortless, you can bet that every word he says has been deliberately chosen for its impact. What feels like a comedy tribute to America ends by becoming surprisingly subversive. Very intelligent comedy. 4 stars.