Reviewer :: Victor Hallett

Current/future shows

Past shows

In Pursuit of Cardenio
The Sticking Place
Until August 12 2006 at Underbelly, Edinburgh.
"A wonderful mixture of information, skilful wit and sheer silliness"

¡El Conquistador!
Lucidity Suitcase
Until August 13 2006 at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
"Witty and imaginative... the fairy tale ending is pure delight"

Allegiance
Mel Smith
Until August 13 2006 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"Michael Fassbender as Michael Collins comes close to stealing the show"

The Regina Monologues
Tidemark Theatre
Until August 19 2006 at C, Edinburgh.
"Ambitious, different and certainly never boring"

Unprotected
Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse
Until August 20 2006 at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
"Seriously devastating stuff about the Liverpool sex industry"

Pumpgirl
Bush Theatre
Until August 27 2006 at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
"A vigorous piece about three losers in life's race"

Caesar Twins
Trillion Dollar Company
Until August 28 2006 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"Their cut-price campness can be endearing, but is mostly irritating"

Cooking With Puccini
TTI - Guy Masterson
Until August 28 2006 at St George's West, Edinburgh.
"Great music, and the cooking is slickly done... almost as good as a trip to Italy"

End of the Rainbow
Assembly Theatre, Mollison and Marshall Cordell
Until August 28 2006 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"Caroline O'Connor gives a phenomenal performance"

Jump
YEGAM Inc. Korea
Until August 28 2006 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"Come away with a gloriously silly grin on your face and a feeling of stunned amazement"

Marlon Brando's Corset
Richard Jordan Productions
Until August 28 2006 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"A way over-long, badly constructed would-be satire"

Mickey Mouse is Dead
Spankin' Yanks
Until August 28 2006 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"Terrific...this is close-up theatre at its very best"

Midnight Cowboy
Assembly Theatre and Marshall Cordell
Until August 28 2006 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"Great ensemble work... Con O'Neill is powerfully convincing"

Pauline Goldsmith - Should Have Had the Fish
Assembly Theatre and Marshall Cordell present
Until August 28 2006 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"Falls rather awkwardly between drama and stand-up comedy"

The Hamlet Project
Drama Centre 43
Until August 28 2006 at C Central, Edinburgh.
"Just about everything you could ask from any production, let alone a student one"

The Interview
actio/reactio
Until August 28 2006 at Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh.
"Performances make it worth an hour of anyone's time"

The Syringa Tree
Menagerie Theatre/Escalator East to Edinburgh
Until August 28 2006 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"Gin Hammond twists and turns to bring 24 characters to life"

Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer
Aidan Dooley
Until August 28 2006 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"A grippingly vivid, surprisingly funny account of sheer heroism"

We Don't Have Husbands
The Kransky Sisters
Until August 28 2006 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"A deliciously deadpan trio whose musical arrangements are wittily naive"

The Double Inconstancy
by London Classic Theatre
From October 30 2006 to October 30 2006 at Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy.
From October 31 2006 to October 31 2006 at Eastgate Theatre, Peebles.
"Excellent direction... an elegantly enjoyable production"

C-90
Daniel Kitson
From January 23 2007 to January 28 2007 at The Arches, Glasgow.
"This is story- telling in the old fashioned sense... sweet, charming and very, very funny"

Nightfall
by London Classic Theatre
From May 29 2007 to May 29 2007 at Eastgate Theatre, Peebles.
From May 30 2007 to May 30 2007 at Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh.
From May 31 2007 to May 31 2007 at Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy.
"The play grips from start to finish... the acting is exemplary"

Mahabharata
Kalapi Jani for Gita Productions (UK) Ltd and Sadler's Wells Theatre in association with Theatre Royal Brighton
From June 5 2007 to June 9 2007 at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh.
"Powerful, colourful and ultimately moving"

Garibaldi!
Mike Maran Productions
Until August 19 2007 at Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh.
"Probably a show for Radio 4 listeners... it tells its story very entertaingly"

La Didone
The Wooster Group
Until August 22 2007 at Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh.
"Very well sung and played, albeit with somewhat unusual trimmings"

Habagat
Curious&Company
Until August 25 2007 at Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House, Edinburgh.
"Committed performances... by no means a perfect play but it looks good"

I Am My Own Wife
Northern Stage and Giles Ramsay
Until August 25 2007 at St George's West, Edinburgh.
"An amazing story, superbly told by both writer and actor"

7 Spies at the Casino
My Own Private Submarine
Until August 26 2007 at Underbelly, Edinburgh.
"Paul Lavers as David Niven has just the right sort of story- telling style"

A Glance at New York
Axis Theatre Company
Until August 26 2007 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"The constant echo of lines and almost ceaseless movement are not a little irritating"

Believe - Linda Marlowe
LMP and Richard Jordan Productions Ltd
Until August 26 2007 at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
"A very powerful, if somewhat grim show"

Is This About Sex?
Rough Magic
Until August 26 2007 at Traverse 3: The Drill Hall, Edinburgh.
"Sharp and funny ... by the end it becomes a genuinely touching romance"

Joanna Neary's Little Moments
Show + Tell Productions
Until August 26 2007 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"Something special ... a modest, intimate show"

Long Time Dead
Paines Plough and Drum Theatre Plymouth
Until August 26 2007 at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
"The climbing scenes are terrific ... two and a half hours seem to fly by"

The Walworth Farce
by Druid
Until August 26 2007 at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
"An unforgettable production... one of the funniest, most devastating plays to be seen anywhere this year"

Waiting for Alice
Phil Jupitus and Andre Vincent
Until August 26 2007 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"One of the cleverest endings on the Fringe ...a delightful treat of a show"

Wish I Had a Sylvia Plath
Strophium
Until August 26 2007 at Underbelly's Baby Belly, Edinburgh.
"Genuinely painful and disturbing ... Elisabeth Gray never allows you to laugh easily"

American Poodle
Guy Masterson and TTI
Until August 27 2007 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"A slightly raw feel... but the second piece is extremely funny"

An Age of Angels
Guy Masterson - TTI and IMC Productions
Until August 27 2007 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"I wish I could have liked it more... many of the early characters are given irritating mannerisms or voices"

An Air Balloon Across Antarctica
Three to a Room
Until August 27 2007 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"Ultimately a moving, emotional experience"

Arnold Wesker's The Mistress
TTI and Holden Street Theatre
Until August 27 2007 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"One of those power-house solo shows that the Fringe is so good at showcasing"

Basic Training
Assembly Presents Kahlil Ashanti
Until August 27 2007 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"Spine-tingling ...a wonderfully talented entertainer"

Callate!
Mexart 2007: The Anglo Mexican Foundation
From January 1 2006 to August 27 2007 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"A Mexican feast of wild comedy... deserves to be one of the hits of the Fringe"

Certified Male
Glynn Nicholas Group
Until August 27 2007 at St George's West, Edinburgh.
"Good entertainment ... and Les Dennis is a few notches closer to full Fringe cred"

Change: The Upcoming War with Iran
Spankin' Yanks and IMC Productions
Until August 27 2007 at Assembly @ Hill Street Theatre, Edinburgh.
"Not perfect ... but featuring an immensely strong portrait of a weak man"

Dai (Enough)
Bernie Krukoff, Jonathan Pollard, Jon Cutler in association with Paul Lucas Productions
Until August 27 2007 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"A powerful emotional experience that is stunning in every sense of the word"

Forgotten Voices
Assembly
Until August 27 2007 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"One of the most heart-rending plays you'll find on the Fringe... the cast couldn't be better"

Frank and Dolly
Gilded Balloon Productions
Until August 27 2007 at Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh.
"May not be cutting edge but it delivers what it promises"

In the Pink
Fabulosa A Cappela Entertainment
Until August 27 2007 at C Too, Edinburgh.
"An hour of pure, sparkling entertainment"

Jihad: The Musical
Silk Circle Productions
Until August 27 2007 at C, Edinburgh.
"An intelligent and witty late night treat"

Killer Joe
Pleasance and The Comedians' Theatre Company
Until August 27 2007 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"Trailer trash black comedy... certainly worth seeing, if only for the acting"

La Femme est Morte or Why I Should Not Fuck My Son
Shalimar
Until August 27 2007 at Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh.
"Performances that are pitch perfect in tone and style... it's a blast"

Romeo and Juliet
Aquila Theatre Company and Assembly
Until August 27 2007 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"A powerful reading...some of the smaller roles were as good as I've ever seen"

Something Fishy
Moonhag
Until August 27 2007 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"Deep in League of Gentlemen territory ...very clever, very funny theatre indeed"

The Bitches' Ball
Penny Dreadful
Until August 27 2007 at Assembly @ Hill Street Theatre, Edinburgh.
"A great, colourful show so full of energy that you can't help but be swept along by it."

The Book Club - All-New Fighting Years
Book Club
Until August 27 2007 at Assembly Universal Arts, Edinburgh.
"A real treat with a glorious tumble of tatty books"

The Discotivity
Manger Inc
Until August 27 2007 at Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh.
"Jokes are more miss than hit... give the cast some material to work with"

The End of Everything Ever
by NIE (New International Encounter)
From January 1 2006 to August 27 2007 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"A lifetime of laughter and tears packed into 70 minutes - utterly wonderful"

The Last South: Pursuit of the Pole
Festival Highlights
Until August 27 2007 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"A powerful two-hander... although the actors were clearly reading their scripts"

Tir Nan Og
Oran MorE! at Assembly– The Best From a Play a Pie and a Pint
Until August 27 2007 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"Strongly presented, but a more modest venue would have given it greater impact"

Truth in Translation
The Colonnades Theatre Lab/Market Theatre
Until August 27 2007 at St George's West, Edinburgh.
"Extraordinary ... an emotional roller-coaster ride through a country's recent history"

Mabou Mines Dollhouse
Mabou Mines
Until August 28 2007 at King's Theatre, Glasgow.
"Audacious, startling, nightmarish, theatrical and eye-opening"

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
1927
Until August 31 2007 at Underbelly, Edinburgh.
"Deadpan sinister perfection... there was a palpable shiver of fear"

How the Other Half Loves
On Tour
From September 24 2007 to September 29 2007 at King's Theatre, Edinburgh.
"A wildly funny evening at the theatre...the cast is exemplary"

Snake in the Grass
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Until October 17 2007 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry.
"Guaranteed to stretch your nerves ...a cracking piece of entertainment"

The Flouers o Edinburgh
by Pitlochry Festival Theatre Company
Until October 17 2007 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry.
"A rich theatrical feast, full to overflowing with outrageous performances and visual delights"

The Magistrate
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Until October 20 2007 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry.
"Splendidly funny ...but lacks the ultimate delirium of great farce"

The Philadelphia Story
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Until October 20 2007 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry.
"An elegant production... gorgeous designs by Monika Nisbet"

Picasso and Me
Mike Maran Productions
From February 19 2008 to February 23 2008 at Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow.
"Just a little too long but very enjoyable ...the anecdotes are gripping"

The Bacchae
by National Theatre of Scotland
From June 19 2008 to June 21 2008 at His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen.
From June 25 2008 to June 28 2008 at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness.
"A tremendous, utterly theatrical and spectacular production"

Accidental Death of an Accordionist
by Mull Theatre
Until August 23 2008 at St Bride's Centre, Edinburgh.
"A fun show that never has pretensions to be anything else"

Eurobeat - Almost Eurovision
Glynn Nicholas Group/No Mates Productions
From August 18 2008 to August 23 2008 at His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen.
"As glittery, glossy, camp, tacky and loud as they come ...has cult status written all over it"

66a Church Road - A Lament, Made of Memories and Kept in Suitcases, by Daniel Kitson
Higgedly Piggledy Enterprises
Until August 24 2008 at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
"A rambling but perfectly focused monologue... a delight"

A Brief History of Scotland - We Done Loads!
DBS Productions
Until August 24 2008 at Sweet Grassmarket, Edinburgh.
"The enthusiastic and talented cast give it their all... cheap, tacky silliness"

Auditorium
Three's Company
Until August 25 2008 at C, Edinburgh.
"A gloriously diverting, sprawling, anarchic mess of a play"

Boys of the Empire
Glenn Chandler presents
Until August 25 2008 at C, Edinburgh.
"Gloriously OTT ... really does conjure up the world of 1930s boys' magazines"

Everyone We Know
Unspoken Agreement
Until August 25 2008 at C, Edinburgh.
"An inconsequential two-hander... too much time is spent sharing semi-poetic thoughts"

Greyfriars Twisted Tales
The Bridewell Theatre Company in Association With City of the Dead Walking Tours presents The Martians
Until August 25 2008 at George Square Theatre, Edinburgh.
"Leaves its audience helpless with the sort of laughter that's almost too painful to cope with"

Habeas Corpus
by Pitlochry Festival Theatre Company
From January 1 2008 to October 15 2008 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry.
"You will find yourself howling with helpless laughter"

She Stoops to Conquer
by Pitlochry Festival Theatre Company
From January 1 2008 to October 16 2008 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry.
"Very funny... some hugely enjoyable and spectacularly broad acting"

Arcadia
by Pitlochry Festival Theatre Company
From January 1 2008 to October 18 2008 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry.
"A very impressive, absorbing and highly enjoyable production"

Wild Honey
by Pitlochry Festival Theatre Company
From January 1 2008 to October 18 2008 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry.
"A fine, confident production... absorbing and enjoyable"

The Holly & The Ivy
by Middle Ground Theatre Company
From January 12 2009 to January 14 2009 at Dundee Rep Theatre, Dundee.
From January 15 2009 to January 17 2009 at Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy.
"For all its dated attitudes, this is a play that can still hold an audience’s attention"

Frida Kahlo: Viva La Vida
Tirso Theatre and Footprint Project
From January 1 2006 to August 25 2008 at Hill Street Theatre, Edinburgh.
From March 4 2009 to March 7 2009 at Tron Theatre, Glasgow.
"Stunningly convincing... high-energy and full of volatile life"

Spoonface Steinberg
by Beggars & Kings Productions
From April 20 2009 to April 25 2009 at Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow.
From April 28 2009 to April 28 2009 at Lyth Arts Centre, Wick.
From April 29 2009 to April 30 2009 at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness.
"I kept forgetting that I was watching a theatrical performance"

The Art of Swimming
Playgroup
From August 1 2007 to August 12 2007 at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
From May 12 2009 to May 16 2009 at Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow.
"Enchanting writing... an hour of quiet, gentle delight"

After Circles
Miscellany Theatre Productions
From August 6 2009 to August 30 2009 at Underbelly, Edinburgh.
"Worthy but dull, I'm afraid, in spite of the good acting"

Fucked
by Tangram Theatre Company
From August 6 2009 to August 30 2009 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
"The words sound as though they are tumbling out spontaneously"

The Bone House
Canada's Village Theatre
From August 6 2009 to August 30 2009 at Underbelly, Edinburgh.
"I have never heard a theatre audience scream like they did when the light wents out"

The Contest
Ines Wurth Presents
From August 4 2009 to August 30 2009 at Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh.
"A wholly absorbing, sharp play about ambition, love and trust"

The Doubtful Guest
Hoipolloi and The Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with English Touring Theatre
From August 18 2009 to August 30 2009 at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
"If you are on its wavelength then this is a glorious show"

Almost 10
by Tangram Theatre Company
From August 5 2009 to August 31 2009 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"One person, superb acting, gripping theatre, pure Fringe"

Horse
Company FZ
From August 6 2009 to August 31 2009 at Underbelly's Hullabaloo, Edinburgh.
"Talented performer, good moments but definitely odd"

Metamorphosis by Steven Berkoff
Cambridge University ADC
From August 7 2009 to August 31 2009 at C Too, Edinburgh.
"It's the insect chorus that makes the production so memorable"

My Life with the Dogs
by NIE (New International Encounter)
From August 5 2009 to August 31 2009 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
"NIE have done it again ... very funny comedy, beautiful use of music"

Play On Words
Three's Company
From January 1 2006 to August 27 2007 at C soco, Edinburgh.
From August 5 2009 to August 31 2009 at Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh.
"I've rarely been so wrong-footed ... a very good play indeed"

The Critic
The Lincoln Company
From August 5 2009 to August 31 2009 at C, Edinburgh.
"Most impressive is the understanding the cast show of the 18th-century theatrical jokes"

The Montana Ranch
Rhesus Productions and Strangedog Theatre Company
From August 7 2009 to August 31 2009 at C Central, Edinburgh.
"A zippy little comedy ... it doesn't amount to a powerful political statement"

Faith Healer
by The Gate Theatre
From August 15 2009 to September 5 2009 at King's Theatre, Edinburgh.
"The acting is faultless ... just go and see this outstanding production"

David Leddy's White Tea
by Tron Theatre Company and Fire Exit
From July 31 2009 to August 1 2009 at Tron Theatre, Glasgow.
From August 6 2009 to August 31 2009 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
From September 15 2009 to September 26 2009 at Tron Theatre, Glasgow.
"The story is slight, the secrets are small, the atmosphere is all"

What Every Woman Knows
by Pitlochry Festival Theatre Company
From May 21 2009 to October 14 2009 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry.
"A timely and richly enjoyable revival of what proves to be a very fine play"

The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie
by Pitlochry Festival Theatre Company
From June 4 2009 to October 15 2009 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry.
"The outstanding performance is that of Irene Allan as Sandy."

Good Things
by Pitlochry Festival Theatre Company
From May 28 2009 to October 17 2009 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry.
"Charming, moving and very, very funny"

Whisky Galore - A Musical!
by Pitlochry Festival Theatre Company
From May 15 2009 to October 17 2009 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry.
"A perfectly drinkable blended Scotch rather than a vintage island malt"

The World's Wife
Linda Marlowe, Directed By Di Sherlock
From August 6 2009 to August 31 2009 at Assembly @ George Street, Edinburgh.
From August 17 2010 to August 19 2010 at Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh.
"Does magnificent service to a terrific group of poems ... not to be missed"

Floating
Hoipolloi & Hugh Hughes
From August 20 2007 to August 27 2007 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
From October 6 2010 to October 9 2010 at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
"Blissful... simply charmingly silly"

Hugh Hughes in... Story of a Rabbit
HoiPolloi and The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich / Escalator East to Edinburgh
From August 1 2006 to August 27 2007 at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh.
From October 7 2010 to October 9 2010 at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
"Quirky humour and sublime silliness"