Snow Play - Lyngo Theatre. Nuclear Family. Quiet Act of Destruction. New Art Club

Snow Play. Lyngo Theatre

Pleasance Courtyard

Tues 23 Aug

Genre: Children’s Theatre

Mr Green’s returns from his summer holidays to find Mr White from the North has moved into his house.  Before long snow starts to appear…. In Mr White’s pockets, on the tree, in the garden and finally in Mr Green’s house.  Lots of audience participation which the children loved – sticking snow on Mr White’s coat, helping to cover the house in snow and throwing snowballs at Mr White…lots of snow balls.

A two hander with lots of interaction.  One of the performers was stronger than the other, which I found a bit distracting.

The set was simple and it was a sweet story. It would work very well on the rural touring circuit and Lyngo Theatre have done some rural touring.

Length. 45 mins

Nuclear Family

The Surgeons Hall

Tues 23 Aug.

Gentre: Theatre

A one woman tour de force.  The story centres round a group of three generations of Venezuelan and Soviet Jewish Immigrants who settle in New Zealand.  It takes place on the eve of the Chernobyl disaster.  The actor plays about 10 different characters in a comedy drama that swings between the shocks and delights they encounter in a new life.  It gives an insight into what it means to be an immigrant.  The performance held my attention from start to finish, but I don’t think it’s something that I would book.  They seemed a small family company.  The set was none existent - a fold up table and chair and the actor wore a T shirt and jeans which gave the impression of sitting in a rehearsal, rather than a finished performance.

Lenth 1 hr

Quiet Act of Destruction. New Art Club

The Assembly,

George Square

Tues 23 Aug

Genre: Comedy

The audience are major players in this comedy show as they take on the roles of the feuding villagers of Meldrett and Melburn who fall out over the renaming of a railway station.  We are required to shout, taunt and make obscene gestures at each other, which everyone joined in with gusto, progressing to scoring points by stealing a cardboard pancake, speed eating cornflake competition and a bread throwing fight.  I suspect this could only happen in Edinburgh.  I can’t see it transferring to a village hall near me (that bread could make perfectly good sandwiches for the interval!).  It’s an hour of chaotic madness delivered by two lunatics.  My 15 year old son and his friend loved it, but I did feel a bit uncomfortable holding hands with them, doing pelvic thrusts and shouting…..no I can’t tell you it’s too uncomfortable!!

A fun ending to my Edinburgh visit.  Thanks NRTF, ACE, Claire/Jen, China Plate and everyone for sharing recommendations.  I think I’ve missed a review, but have run out of steam.  Barbara - Highlights