Reviews
Arctic Oil
★★☆☆☆ Feeble:
Great forces of vital importance are brought into a claustrophobic setting in Clare Duffy’s new two-hander, Arctic Oil, which is the main Autumn production at the Traverse, running to Saturday 20 October.
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake
★★★★★ Magnificent:
It’s 23 years since Mathew Bourne changed the gender of the swans in Swan Lake for his choreography of the ballet, which is at the Festival Theatre all week to Saturday.
Quest for Oz
★★★★☆ Mysterious:
An infectious cross between an interactive game and a piece of immersive theatre, Quest for Oz sees the paths around Drummohr House near Musselburgh turned into the land of Oz.
Cyrano de Bergerac
★★★★★ Irresistible:
Visually and verbally intoxicating, Cyrano de Bergerac at the Lyceum is a riotous, joyous expression of the human spirit.
Cyprus Avenue
★★★★☆ Brutal:
Brutal to a point which is almost beyond comprehension, the EUTC production of Cyprus Avenue, at the Bedlam to Saturday, fools with laughter before stunning you to silence.
Rebus: Long Shadows
★★★☆☆ Overshadowed:
Despite boasting the talents of two of Scotland’s greatest writers and a more than adequate cast, Rebus: Long Shadows, at the King’s until Saturday, is nowhere near as compelling as the stage debut of Edinburgh’s most celebrated fictional policeman should be.
Calendar Girls – The Musical
★★★★★ Heartfelt:
Big, powerful emotions are harnessed to most glorious effect by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth in this musical version of the Calendar Girls story, which is touring to the Festival Theatre for a fortnight.
Madagascar The Musical
★★☆☆☆ Lackluster:
Madagascar may have been a hugely popular animated movie, but unfortunately, the musical adaptation fails to hit the right notes as it tours to the Playhouse this week.
Rain Man
★★☆☆☆ Clunky:
There are probably enough fans of the original movie to sustain The Classic Screen to Stage Company’s touring version of Rain Man, at the King’s until Saturday. However, as a piece of theatre it never makes a successful case for itself.
Still Alice
★★★☆☆ Poignant:
The portrayal of early-onset Alzheimer’s in Still Alice, touring to the King’s all week, will certainly resonate with many, thanks largely to Sharon Small’s magnetic central performance.
