Savoy! Everybody’s Doing It
C Venues
*** “A happy mix of cool and glitz.”
It is a meeting of styles in the glitzy surroundings of the Savoy together with an odd clash of story arcs that somehow come under a common wing and for the most part works elegantly. It has a romantic feel and yet seems to battle against the victory of happy times. The audience was a little sparse on my evening which was unfortunate as participation and a corporate atmosphere is key to its appeal. The singers are blended nicely and are coolly engaging to watch, the fourth wall comes tumbling down and the glitzy warmth is generously shared for all to enjoy. I was still doing a little head scratching as I left, wondering quite what the clear message was, and indeed what everyone was boldly doing at the Savoy.
Paul Davidson
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The Last Laugh
Assembly George Square
***** “Worth waiting for…. don’t miss it”
Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe, and Bob Monkhouse on stage together for about an hour, what could possibly go wrong. Well to be truthful, not a lot. Wonderfully recreated by actors Damian Williams, Bob Goulding, and Simon Cartwright respectively. Cartwright in particular a picture-perfect Monkhouse, and the other two carve out beautifully nuanced performances as comedy geniuses Cooper and Morecambe. It is very much about actors creating deep characterisations and not about impersonations.
Fascinating to see them interact with one another and reminisce about their early days climbing the showbusiness ladder. It was my final show of the fringe and it was a laugh that was certainly worth waiting for.
Paul Davidson
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Shotgunned
The Space
**** “fulfilling and nicely crafted piece”
A cosy venue for an intimate two hander. The style by writer and director Matt Anderson is tight and fast in equal measure with lighting dropping in and out with alarming regularity. The actors are fast on their feet as well and cleverly dash around the somewhat small stage.
The close-up dance by the duo centres around the patterns our lives make when steered by someone we become intimate with. The shape can at times be beautiful and captivating and then equally at times disturbing and painful.
Fraser Allan Hogg is Dylan and Lorna Panton is house owner Roz. The decision to live together is at first joyous one leading to an initial excitable fulfilment, but regretfully results in emptiness and a fall from love. It is a rather complex story arc not helped by the irregular time pattern. But the text and both performers catch and take you with them, you remain invested and ultimately you care for their outcomes. Testament to some superb character development and acting. Some tricky themes are not avoided and approached sensitively and with delicate care. Fulfilling and nicely crafted
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Will Sebag-Montefiore
The Will of the People
Underbelly
**** “A very amusing and clever talent.”
Quick, deft, and sharp. Many a satirist must have had their patter and material ready and waiting in the heady days of a tory spring. Then up pops a rain sodden Prime Minister to call an unwinnable election and spoil all their fun. The answer as Will Sebag- Montefiore crafts keenly is to make the switch all part of his high-speed act. He raps, he interacts with the audience, he tells stories, and best of all he performs beautifully with the obvious traits of a trained actor. The commentary and yarns to the most part outperformed the raps. But he is a very amusing and clever talent and one to keep an eye on, whatever the political weather is.
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Voices of Bond
Night Owl Music
The Space at Symposium Hall
**** “Nobody does it better”
It is a dash at double speed through the very best of 007’s soundtracks. From the Bassey belters to the latest from Billie Eilish this is the show to make time for. Bond classics and some sharp insights into the background of some of the movies are on offer. The key to the success of course is highly talented 4-piece band backing a top-class vocalist. Ella McCready is gold standard and mixes her top sound with some likable links.
Everyone of course has their favourites and there may be some disappointment with some that were left off the list, but generally the mix of old and new was a clever one, with much to enjoy and reminisce over. One of many tribute shows gracing the stage this year courtesy of the excellent Night Owls production company
Paul Davidson
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Wallis
The Space at Surgeons Hall
**** “a good find at the fringe”
A new musical that revisits a familiar tale. Lots to commend, it feels fresh with plenty of 1930’s fun dashed through the dialogue. And Mrs Simpson isn’t the Cruella of the piece as she is normally portrayed. Megan O’Hara carves out a beautifully crafted Wallis, yes there is an element of scheming and plotting but she is also flawed and troubled and above all in love with the forbidden heir to the throne. Rhys Anderson grows into the role of Edward V111 another rather lost soul, who gets shepherded to the inevitable by Prime Minister Baldwin and others in dark suits. Andrew Williams shows flexibility and fun with his dual roles of Fruity and Baldwin.
We come away not necessarily humming the score, which may need some work and certainly needs some more variety, but we do come away with perhaps a new view on the much-maligned Mrs Simpson. A good find at the fringe.
Paul Davidson
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