Tir Nan Og

What is it that makes the difference in the size of a Fringe audience? On one side of the Assembly Rooms' doors was a queue that stretched way along George Street. On the other, a mere handful waited to see Tir Nan Og.

It's nothing to do with quality. Tir Nan Og is a richly melodic, sung-through piece about a poet's search for eternal youth. Maybe that's also part of the problem: it all sounds rather fey. It isn't. It's earthy, even raunchy. During her stay in Amsterdam the poet is inevitably, given her circumstances, known as The Hooker of Holland.

Perhaps the size of the Assembly Ballroom doesn't help. The four person show does manage to fill its stage but a more modest venue would have given it greater impact, Hill Street Theatre would have been perfect.

So what are those people who are staying away missing? First and foremost some marvellous tuneful music and witty lyrics courtesy of Dave Anderson. He also plays on-stage keyboards together with Alan Tall on a variety of other instruments.

The poet is strongly played and sung by Pauline Knowles, now up with optimism, now brought down with a thump in a seemingly endless cycle of highs and lows. All the other roles are played by Jennifer Rhodes, talented flautist, wonderful singer, versatile actress and charismatic stage presence.

It's possibly too slight a show ' maybe another couple of extra numbers would help ' but that's no reason to miss out on something so strongly presented and so entertaining.