Simon Boothroyd

The Hollow
★★★☆☆ Stately:
Huge care and attention has gone into the staging of Threepenny Theatricals’ version of Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. That care, however, does mean that there is a definite absence of energy in a production that never outstays its welcome but frequently threatens to.

The Mikado
★★★☆☆ Solid
There are big ambitions and some sparkling moments to Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s latest take on The Mikado, which at the King’s Theatre all week to Saturday.

HMS Pinafore
★★★★☆ Hits the heights:
There is a strong musicality and big professional polish to EdGAS’s production of H.M.S. Pinafore which is at the King’s Theatre until Saturday.

Elephants
★★★★☆ Accomplished debut:
Some excellent acting distinguishes ‘festive black comedy’ Elephants from new company Threepenny Theatricals upstairs at the Roxy.

Elephants in the Roxy
3T’s debut, Elephants, is Main event:
New Edinburgh amateur company Threepenny Theatricals is staging Rose Heiney’s black comedy Elephants as its debut production at the Assembly Roxy next week, 25 – 27 January 2018.

Ruddygore
★★★☆☆ Precise:
Musically rigorous and staged with clarity, there is a definition to EDGAS’s Ruddygore than compensates for a certain lack of sparkle.

Me and My Girl
★★★★☆ Thoroughly tuneful:
Very fine performances and some chorus numbers of an exceptional standard mark out Me and My Girl, EDGAS’s latest foray into non-G&S material at the Church Hill, to Saturday.

Goldrush!
★★☆☆☆ Bitty:
Strong voices and some great tunes give the premiere run of Anne-Marie Fraser’s new musical Goldrush!, at St Bride’s to Saturday, an invigorating bounce.

South Pacific
★★★★☆ Slick and sassy:
The vibrant colours of a lush, South Pacific tropical garden, with views to a distant volcanic island, frame Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s offering for this dreich October up at the Church Hill all week.