DAVID VERNON AND DICK LEE ( they didn't have a name for their duo - if they were booked they would need to think up a a catchy name for themselves! - 'Squeeze 'n Blow' perhaps?! )
A brilliant accordion/clarinet duo, these two played a great programme of music to suit all tastes, from Kletzmer and Balkan dance music to jazzed up Scottish airs, French musettes, Ragtime and blues, even a bit of Mozart.
Their presentation style was accessible and fun ( if a bit teehee!), and the musicianship impeccable.
BLUESWATER COLLECTIVE
Dynamic, sexy and energetic renditions of all that music which underpins today's popular music, this Edinburgh based band flew through the history of the Blues, with classic tracks from Delta, Chicago, Muddy Waters, BB King, Screamin Jack Hawkins, Elvis, Clapton, Hendrix Stevie Ray Vaughan all in an hour long assault on the senses. Many in the audience were incapable of sitting still, so dancing in the isles was inevitable and positively encouraged! Brilliant front man kept the pace up, gradually building the size of the band to include brass, percussion and vocal doo wop. Wonderful!
Tuesday
THE FANTASIST Theatre Temoin. Underbelly.
A three hander, this powerful piece of theatre stays with you for days afterwards. An unusual and stunning combination of physical theatre, puppetry and original sounds and music make for a thought provoking piece on a small and cleverly arranged set. It explores the collision between fantasy and reality of bipolarity with sensitivity and humour, leaving the audience with a better understanding of the highs and lows of this disturbing and generally misunderstood condition.
The performance was a sell out, and one of the festivals big hits.
SELF CRITICISM
2 hander.Well acted, the struggle between the wife and the mistress figure, the home maker and the tart... but not really the stuff of local theatre tours!
Wednesday
COUNTRY BOY'S STRUGGLE
Maxwell Golden does a great job in portraying the growing up process in deepest Cornwall ( could be Yorkshire or any other rural outpost ) of a young lad wanting to get somewhere, anywhere, but mainly AWAY, into hip hop and a feeling of belonging. Moves to the big city in his search, and after many disappointments and setbacks, finds his way into the independent life he wants at the end of the rainbow. The story of migration, separation from familiar ties and family, especially his sceptical and judgemental father, to the metamorphosis he has dreamed of. Great rap, stylishly performed.
LADY CAROL MUST DIE one woman cabaret.
Charming Irish girl from Cork, with her ukelele arrives on stage like the original diva and proceeds with the chat, as only the Irish can, about her life and times, her original songs accompanied by the uke in her powerful and hypnotic voice. Slides of Irish childhood and teen years back projected while she sings, the main theme of the piece is her relationship with a difficult father from whom she escapes into punk and goth extremes. Would melt the heart of any audience with its tender and funny observations.
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