Past Half Remembered

This is the story of 20th Century Russia told through the imperfect memories of an old woman, performed via the music and multi-languages of a touring group specialising in Rough Theatre.

Sorry, was that a question from the back? Certainly I will define Rough Theatre. It's the sort where rain is conveyed by someone visibly rustling paper while someone else holds an umbrella up; the sort where a whole world is conjured up with a minimum of scenery and effects; where doors are created out of thin air; where the audience's imagination fills in the spaces.

Ah, but this company don't seem to have got their roles sorted out, nor indeed some of the basic techniques such as how to show two emotions at once. And that's because this is a wicked send up of every multi-instrumental, multi-language, multi-talented travelling group you've ever seen present the story of 20th Century Russia through the imperfect memories of an old woman.

See each ego try to grab centre stage in turn. See drama lessons happen in the middle of a performance. See attempts to upstage while operating visible sound effects. See revenges being taken by insult or water. See the ultimate definition of a mouthful of food. See, above all, one of the funniest shows you are likely to catch anywhere on the Fringe.

It's difficult to convey just how good a show this is because of course it wouldn't be as successful at parodying Rough Theatre if it wasn't itself a really good example of it. Even as you laugh at White Guards turning into Red Guards by velcroing different coloured epaulettes, you find yourself believing in them. Even as one of the innocent young lovers goes into a wildly funny paranoid rant about bird watching and soldiering, you still believe in them as young lovers.

And always you believe in Maria, old lady, young girl, defiant patriot. The highest compliment I can pay this show is to say that although it pulled the rug from underneath its own style of performance with great glee and hilarious results, the sight of Maria under a blizzard of feather snow as she waited for death brought real tears to my eyes.

I don't know who played which instrument or which part so I'll simply list the cast: Kjell Moberg, Tomas Mechacek, David Pagan, Iva Moberg, Anna Healey and Aude Henrye. Do yourself a favour - let them give you some vodka or Russian tea and then just enjoy their skills.