Dribble, Underbelly Bristo Square.
An unexpectedly joyous start to the day. Whilst you’re queuing to get in, the six members of Cenica, part of the Sao Paolo Showcase, amble along outside the venue, recreating Brazil’s street music scene, and getting us all into the vibe. Once the show starts inside the venue, we see that Dribble is, on one hand, an examination of football in Brazil, but it quickly develops into something much more: a celebration of individualism, of equality, of those things that make life worth living. We see people’s own private stories, from the son whose father was dying while he was rehearsing the show, to the women who watch football together for different reasons, and the man who found the safety to come out and truly be himself. There’s a charmingly hilarious re-enactment of the first man (a Scot, Charles Miller) to bring football to Brazil, plenty of drink to keep us lubricated; and then the whole show culminates with going back outside to have a bit of a game of footie with the cast. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but I didn’t expect any of that. The cast of six – Beta Cunha, Glauco Garcia, Fabiano Amigucci, Ícaro Negroni, Diego Guirado, and Márcia Morellio, do an amazing job of creating a combination of honesty, involvement, a sense of belonging and pure joy. One of those shows that the Fringe is made for. 5 stars.
The Jolly Fisherman, Underbelly Bristo Square.
Based on a true story, John Dinneen’s The Jolly Fisherman tells the story of Alan, whose dad and his mates drink daily in their local pub in Barking, and Amir, whose family move into a house on the same street. Alan and Amir become firm friends as boys, and go to the Jolly to play darts after school. Both boys influence each other with their own cultures – Amir learning about pub life and Alan experiencing Friday prayers. But the Jolly is to be closed – and rather than reopening as a reinvigorated pub, it becomes a mosque. Can their friendship survive a decade, or will suspicion and radicalisation change the way Alan thinks about Amir? Dinneen’s highly anticipated play poses some very challenging questions, and you almost dread finding out all the answers. Jonny Khan and Alex (Why I Stuck a Flare…) Hill are two outstanding actors who play the two boys-into-men with great understanding and true heart. Whilst the play itself may have the occasional lull and drop in energy, Khan and Hill always keep you totally engaged. And there’s a rivetingly exciting ending that you don’t know which way it will go until the final few seconds. 4 stars.
Bombs over Byker, Greenside @ Riddles Court.
River’s idle search for a job is upended when he joins his mother and sister to stay with his grandmother in Byker, Newcastle. A chance encounter with a dying pigeon leads him to meet local lads Shane and Crombie, whom he invites to a student party – a scenario which stirs within him an unexpected desire for criminal mischief. And once kindled, does that flame of criminality grow? Or can he pull himself and his friends back from the brink? Fresh from his excellent The Shadow Boxer last year, Lucas English returns with Bombs over Byker, an intense and intricate play that weighs the benefits of certain crimes over others, raising questions of morality, family loyalty and just how far you can endanger yourself and others for the greater good. Lucas is an excellent writer and storyteller, and this is a superb performance, clearly bringing together all the characters and voices in his tale, staging the play simply and effectively for a small acting space. Highly recommended! 4 stars.
Target Audience, Pleasance Courtyard.
£10,000 for a daily consultation rate? Novelist Tobias can’t believe his luck as he’s called into the creative room to smarten up the scripts of Citizen 54 and Thorns! Of course, the studio has to satisfy the needs of their stakeholders and their owners, and their owners’ owners… But Tobias has principles. Will he sell his soul to help write a script that goes totally against his beliefs? Dan Bishop’s Target Audience is a cleverly written and witty play that examines the ins and outs of a TV studio creative executive suite, and asks the question – what would we do when we’re truly Up Against It?! Excellent performances from the cast of four – Henry Calcutt, Rheana Kamalu, Molly Windust and James Coward, the show delivers laugh after laugh whilst successfully making some very difficult points. Very enjoyable. 4 stars.
Max Fulham: Memory Foam, Pleasance Dome.
We’ve all got attics with loads of cardboard boxes in them, and every few years we make a visit up there just to sort out what’s in those boxes. In Memory Foam, Max Fulham is back with another ecstatically funny hour of ventriloquism – yes, I know those two concepts don’t often go together – with not only three encounters with Grandad, but also a lovelorn puppet from a charity shop, his great-great-great-(and probably further back)-Grandad, talking works of art, and a very special guest who has a very well-known website. Max’s quick brain is at its devilish best when joshing with the audience, and he has the enviable gift of making literally nothing funny – you’ll see what I mean if you see his show and watch out for Islands in the Stream. Loved his show last year – this year he’s even funnier. Remember, you never know what could be in those cardboard boxes. It may be ventriloquism – but it’s not for kids. 5 stars.
