The Pickle Republic is a society in decline, full of maladjusted root vegetables and preserved personality disorders. Ruxandra Cantir’s one-person show takes the audience on a tour of the Pickle Republic’s dying days through a series of sketches involving foods contending with their inevitable fate as a gelatinous puddle at the bottom of the fridge.
The show takes place in Summerhall’s Anatomy Lecture Theatre, with its semicircle seating adding to the feeling that the audience is peering into an enormous jar. One sketch takes full advantage of this space with Cantir, dressed as a pickle in a green suit, sliding their hands across the inside of their glassy prison.
Pickled Republic excels in its costume design with each character having a uniquely crafted look. Most impressive is a potato showgirl with a fully modelled head with sprouts that grow as the vegetables begin to age. Full of potato puns and vegetable vernacular, Cantir’s peelable provocateur steals the show.
Although Pickled Republic’s presentation is tongue-in-cheek, it sometimes falls short of humour with some moments relying on the logic of a louder delivery equalling a funnier joke. Despite this, Cantir gives a compelling series of performances, bringing the quirky characters of the Pickle Republic to life.
Pickled Republic manages to create a cohesive world with memorable characters and interesting themes within its short runtime. Whilst the show may not be a side-splitting experience, it makes up for this with great costumes and performances.
Pickled Republic, Summerhall, until 24 Aug (not 11, 18), 1.15pm