Review
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.
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.
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.
Showcase 2018
★★★☆☆ Fun and Eclectic:
The biggest songs in rock, pop and musical theatre are celebrated in Showcase 2018 on at the Church Hill Theatre until Saturday
Islander
★★★★☆ Etherial:
Mystical in content and audacious in its presentation, Islander is a musical for just two performers which is thought-provoking and intriguing in equal measure.
Benidorm Live
★★★★☆ Bawdy:
Boldly brash – and brazen with it – the live musical version of ITV hit Benidorm combines plenty of recognition for the show’s fans with the kind of comedy that would make a panto dame blush.
