Lauchlan Innes
Juan Solo’s Excellent Adventures in Space!
★★★★
Ignacio Lopez has kids and adults of all ages laughing in this charming introduction to stand-up comedy.
Even if you’re not the target audience, there is plenty to enjoy in this blend of chaotic audience interaction and relatable storytelling. It was loosely strung together by a space theme but don’t go in expecting too much of a Star Wars parody.
Ignacio is normally a stand-up comedian for adults and those skills really shine through. Between amusing stories of his upbringing in Majorca and Wales there was hilarious banter with his co-pilot Zee Dee. Children are normally the toughest audience to engage but not a single member of the 40-strong audience looked bored during this 50-minute show full of interactive twists and surprises.
Juan Solo’s Excellent Adventures in Space was a great show with phenomenal crowd work. May the Force be with Juan throughout the rest of the Fringe.
Juan Solo’s Excellent Adventures in Space!, Hoots @ The Apex, run ended.
Achilles, Death of the Gods
★★★★
If you’re into Greek myths, historical fiction or spoken word, this show has it all.
This original, modern retelling of Homer’s epic poem The Iliad, excels through dramatic spoken word with intriguing acting and great staging. It is not often I get so engaged in a one person show but this production managed to do all the right things. I liked how the actor handled the fast transitions between playing the narrator and the different characters in the story.
It was an immersive and intense experience, enhanced by the small venue and the use of lighting to highlight the emotional parts of the story. The actor rang a small bell to indicate the changing of scenes which helped make the fast-paced narrative more understandable.ic st
If you would like a passionate and fresh reworking of a classic which has been told hundreds of times before, I would strongly recommend it.
Achilles, Death of the Gods, Paradise in Augustines, until 24 Aug (not 10, 17), 2.15pm
Payton Jones
The Telepath and The Conjuror
★★★★
The Telepath and The Conjuror is a mind-reading magic show with some comedy thrown into the mix. The Conjuror did various magic tricks such as card tricks, making things appear out of nowhere and making things float. He aided The Telepath by asking her to predict things and getting the audience to be a part of the magic.
I really enjoyed this show and I’d never seen anything like it before. Every trick left me stunned and wondering how they did it. Between the two of them, I preferred The Telepath’s sections as every trick is specific to the different audience that comes to each show. When they asked a member of the audience to write things up for The Telepath to guess, she got it spot on. Something else that stood out to me was how they were able to easily play off mistakes and faults and turn them into a joke.
I liked the show a lot and from the audience’s reaction, they did too. Seeing magic like that live was impressive. You can see people like Derren Brown online but actually being there is a whole different experience and this performance didn’t disappoint. I would highly recommend this to magic fans, but also anyone as they will all be amazed by the tricks.
The Telepath and The Conjuror, theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, until 23 Aug (not 10, 17), 12.45pm
Achilles, Death of the Gods
★★
Achilles may have been one of the greatest warriors in Greek mythology but if you saw Achilles, Death of the Gods at Paradise in St Augustines, you might have been left wondering why.
Jo Kelen is the only performer in this poetic, spoken word piece about the death of Achilles’ boyfriend Patroclus. She does a good job of remembering all the lines for each character, with a strong sense of timing and use of the small stage space.
I personally didn’t enjoy the show but I know other people would have. I found it hard to follow the storyline at times and often felt unclear on a lot of plot points. Despite my lack of enjoyment, the performance did make good use of lighting and props to show character changes and the mood of each scene.
During the show, I found myself looking around at the audience and saw a few bored and sleepy looks, much like mine. I went in with no knowledge of the story and left unenlightened, apart from knowing that Patroclus dies in the end. I am not a fan of Greek mythology so that immediately puts my opinion at a disadvantage, but I would recommend it to Greek mythology experts and lovers of spoken word.
Achilles, Death of the Gods, Paradise in Augustines, until 24 Aug (not 10, 17), 2.15pm
Astrid Morris
Seltzer Boy
★★★★
At first glance, Connor McKenna’s Fringe debut may appear like a simple tribute to seltzer. What even is seltzer? British audiences might ask. Don’t worry, you’ll find out. But after a light-hearted opening, the American performer delves into the complexities of growing up with crushing societal pressures around your body and examines how this has affected his changing relationship with his own appearance.
Heavy themes of body dysmorphia, childhood obesity and diet culture are punctuated and expanded upon with more comedic elements. With nods to Meghan Trainor, American patriotism, family feuds and other personal anecdotes, the audience is effortlessly guided through McKenna’s poignant perspective on an almost universal experience.
This is an instantly relatable story that will touch your heart and provides a true personal insight into the impact that struggles with your own body can have.
Seltzer Boy, Paradise in Augustines, until 16 Aug (not 10), 11.20am
A Highly Suspect Murder Mystery: The Betray-tors
★★★
Traitors spin-off meets Exit, this highly engaging mystery calls for audiences to help solve the murder of a player!
With a villain to unmask and puzzles to solve, this high-energy performance requires you to don your deerstalker and grab your magnifying glass as a motley crew of murder suspects are put under the microscope. Work your way through the evidence pack and look out for more clues the performers may give you throughout the case.
The absurd personalities of the players and the dreadful puns they crack provide light-hearted fun for all. The format of the show struggles to deliver the full murder mystery experience, with just over an hour to find the killer and a lot to read. That said, definitely a must-see for any budding detectives out there!
A Highly Suspect Murder Mystery: The Betray-tors, theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, until 23 Aug (not 10, 17), 1.40pm
Ava Faulkner
Achilles, Death of the Gods
★★★
One of the wonderful things about Greek myths is that they can be interpreted many ways, giving you a different impression of events or a purely unique view from each character.
Spoken word and poetry can be powerful, but the reason this show stands out against other poetry is performer Jo Kelen’s vivid passion for what she does. She wants to be there, to share her love for Greek myths and influence others on a topic that interests her.
Kelen’s acting is extremely engaging. It is not easy to act as more than one character and remember that many lines. Her presence on stage, her powerful acting, is matched by the lighting and sound that emphasise her dramatic stomps and bell chiming which was an interesting and unique feature.
The question, ‘would I recommend this?’ is a difficult one because, while I didn’t have an initial connection with this play, that doesn’t mean it did not captivate me. I would recommend this show to anyone who is interested in Greek mythology but also to those who want a different perspective on Greek myths.
Achilles, Death of the Gods, Paradise in Augustines, until 24 Aug (not 10, 17), 2.15pm
The Telepath and The Conjuror
★★★★
Mark and Emily re-tell their love story through their magic and mind reading capability. This show was incredibly impressive, with multiple genres that were smoothly blended into one, from magic to comedy to music to romance.
The pair never failed to engage the audience. After every trick or joke the audience were left on the edge of their seat, waiting with anticipation for what was to come next. Even the regular attendees of magic shows will be left in awe, asking themselves ‘How did he do that?!’.
Would I recommend this show? I will let one of the audience members answer that. As he walked off-stage, he remarked, “That’s nuts!” shaking his head in response to a trick. Looking at different audience members to gauge any signs of enjoyment, I saw there were plenty, as their baffled grins never vanished.
Mark and Emily delivered in full, from the dramatic music and costumes, to their stage presence. This show had lots of audience participation, which ultimately made it more impressive, as you could tell it was not staged. It was just pure talent.
The Telepath and The Conjuror, theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, until 23 Aug (not 10, 17), 12.45pm
Rosa Morris
Boiler Room Six: A Titanic Story
★★★★
You think you know all there is to know about the story of the Titanic until you see Charlie Sheepshanks’ unbelievable performance in this retelling. Created by Tom Foreman, this gripping narrative brings an entirely new perspective on the disaster, painting a vivid picture of life for the lowliest aboard the ship.
Sheepshanks leaps from character to character, one moment playing a stuttering 17-year old afraid of being alone in the world for the first time and the next a highly respected engineer, head high and hands behind his back. Even though there is only ever one person on stage, Sheepshanks’ astonishing ability to breathe life into the story immerses the audience and not once does it falter in the whole 55 minutes.
In the boiler room you can feel the hustle, the stress, the heat, not least because the orange lighting makes the room seem several degrees hotter. The contrast of the stark white lights casts a chill on the audience as disaster strikes, and the sacrifices that follow unfold.
Even with the amount of time and money that went into making James Cameron’s $200 million movie, this one-man show is just as successful in capturing the tragedy of the Titanic.
Boiler Room Six: A Titanic Story, Greenside @ George Street, until 23 Aug (not 10, 17), 12.40pm
2 Truths, 1 Lie
★★★
If you like the BBC panel show Would I Lie To You? then this show is where you need to be this Fringe.
Four comedians are on stage, all with their own individual sense of humour. One plays the role of host as you, the audience, play a role in deducing which of the other three comedians’ statements are false. But beware! Their remarks can be as comical as they are correct, or as feasible as they are false…
You are sure to be entertained as each of the four comedians have completely different styles. However, this can also lead to a bit of a hit-and-miss situation where some might not be to your taste. On the other hand, being introduced to one you love could end up with you going to see some of their solo shows elsewhere at the Fringe.
For anyone looking for some light-hearted laughs and a bit of mystery, this show is a must-see.
2 Truths, 1 Lie, Hoots @ The Apex, until 25 Aug, various times
Ailsa Rose
2 Truths, 1 Lie
★★★
Two comedians are telling the truth, one is not and it’s up to the audience to sniff out the liar! Only one in four audiences will find the right answer and the crafty contestants will try to fool you, but don’t fear, the host is on your side.
As a cult follower of the hit TV panel show Would I Lie To You? I knew I was qualified to review this show. The audience will never be bored when they are the ones with the power and you are almost guaranteed to laugh when you have four unique comedians on stage. Although not all of them will cater to your sense of humour, with a different line-up each night, this could be a fantastic opportunity to find your next favourite comedian or Fringe show.
2 Truths, 1 Lie, Hoots @ The Apex, until 25 Aug, various times
Seltzer Boy
★★★★
We can all relate to Seltzer Boy, even if you know nothing about carbonated beverages.
Seltzer Boy is a one-man dark comedy theatre show, “chronicling my descent into carbonated madness”. What begins as a detailed and brilliantly nerdy powerpoint ranking of seltzers evolves into a deeply moving monologue as performer Connor McKenna shares his purely human, inner-most thoughts with the audience – thoughts that many of us secretly share on body dysmorphia and eating disorders.
McKenna doesn’t shy away from honesty with his witty observations and questions about who is responsible for the way we perceive our bodies. The mix of surprisingly touching comedy with such deep topics means that McKenna gets you at your most vulnerable, but the show’s pace and his intense relatability successfully captivate the audience.
An exceptionally brave debut show and one for those who have ever felt suffocated by societal expectations and diet culture. It’s a friendly reminder that we are not alone.
Seltzer Boy, Paradise in Augustines, until 16 Aug (not 10), 11.20am
The Super Power Agency is a children’s literacy charity based in Edinburgh who work to help young people in Scotland write their own story. Find out more at superpoweragency.com