EdFringe 2021
Radio 69
★★★☆☆ Frothy
There is enough liveliness and verve in Radio 69, presented by the Counterminers at theSpace at Symposium Hall, for several Fringe shows. However, a corresponding attention to detail is not always present.
Pool (no water)
★★★☆☆ Patchy
Pool (no water) from New Celts and Oddly Ordinary reaches high in its intent. The end result is decidedly mixed, with elements that impress and others that infuriate.
Shook
★★★★☆ Stirring
There is a raw, aching vacuum at the heart of Shook from New Celts and Twisted Corners at theSpace Triplex. Not because anything is missing in a particularly well written and excellently acted play; instead, it reflects the emptiness of wasted lives in the young offenders it portrays.
Wish List
★★★★☆ Subtly political
Wish List is an urgently contemporary piece from New Celts and Bone Struck Theatre, dealing with young carers, mental health and the gig economy in a way that never preaches and is always beautifully human.
Smile (Like You’re Happy)
★★★☆☆ Diffuse
Smile (Like You’re Happy), New Celts and Sparkle Sarcasm’s production at theSpace Triplex, deals with modern and timeless concerns in a way that is often too scattergun to succeed but has considerable emotional resonance.
Fear of Roses
★★★★☆ Stylish
Fear of Roses, by Black Bat Productions at Assembly Roxy, is a crisp, intelligent and thoroughly rewarding three-hander.
Corpsing
★★★☆☆ Energetic
It is always pleasing to see play titles that are clear hostages to fortune, like New Celts and Red Rabbit’s Corpsing at theSpace Triplex. However, this is nothing to do with forgetting your lines, and everything to do with actual corpses.
Saving Mr Ultimate
★★★☆☆ Believably Fragile
Saving Mr Ultimate, New Celts Production and Extra Arca’s tale of superheroes, grief and letting go, mixes the serious and the humorous effectively in creating a world that is both believable and ever-so-slightly superhuman.
Sweet F.A.
★★★★☆ Triumphant
History, emotion and righteous anger combine tunefully and humorously in Sweet F.A., This Is My Story Productions’ thoroughly welcome return to Tynecastle Park.
