Theatre
WILF
★★★☆☆ Encouragingly filthy
There is a pleasingly unruly feel to James Ley’s new play WILF, this year’s seasonably unseasonal offering from the Traverse. Full of heart, not to mention dialogue that would have given the Lord Chamberlain palpitations, it overcomes structural difficulties to produce a successful whole.
Christmas Dinner
★★★★☆ Touchingly funny
Christmas Dinner may be something of a stopgap as this year’s Lyceum show, but it proves a success in its own right. Amusing, energetic, and wearing its considerable profundity lightly, it should appeal to the widest possible audience.
Maryland
There is cathartic release of pent up rage to Lucy Kirkwood’s Maryland, which had a semi-staged, script-in-hand performance at the Southside Community Centre on Saturday and returns in a different production to the Traverse this week.
Beyond the Revolution
First hand experience of Arab Spring brought to stage
December 2010 saw the start of what was to become known as the Arab Spring, as revolution spread across the Middle East. Mariem Omari was in Iraq at the time working in a humanitarian role and saw events unfold first hand. Now she has brought her experiences to the stage in Revolution Days.
Death Drop
★★★☆☆ Premature pantomime
Death Drop, from Tuck Shop and Trafalgar Theatre Productions at the King’s until Saturday, is an uneven affair – camp, garish and ultimately entertaining.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
★☆☆☆☆ Unfathomable
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow from Tilted Wig productions, touring to the King’s until Saturday, may just about pass muster for a post-Hallowe’en frightfest due to its occasional horrific moments.
McAvoy’s Cyrano for Glasgow
Cyrano de Bergarac to play Glasgow Theatre Royal
The Olivier Award-winning production of Cyrano de Bergerac with James McAvoy in the title role will tour to Glasgow’s Theatre Royal for a limited run in March 2022.
Ley’s Wilf for Trav Xmas
New play by James Ley makes Traverse Xmas debut
Wilf, a new script from Edinburgh playwright James Ley will be the Christmas offering in Traverse One this year, running for 19 performances in December 2021.
Life is a Dream
★★★★★ Glorious
The Lyceum’s Life is a Dream is a necessary and exquisite reminder of the possibilities of live theatre. Originally planned to end the 2019/20 season, this production has emerged into a completely changed world.
Bug
★★★★☆ Twisted romance
Set in a motel room somewhere in America, Bug begins like a twisted tale of romance but ends as a case study of how conspiracy, paranoia and wild theories can escalate into all-encompassing self-destructive philosophies.
