Reviews & features: Issue 686
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- Issue 686
5 star shows
WitTank
(12 Aug 2011)
A dazzling display of sketch genius- Luke Wright's Cynical Ballads (8 Aug 2011)
Wonderful slices of fractured Britain - Silent (8 Aug 2011)
Witty and moving portrayal of life on the streets - Tamsyn Challenger: 400 Women (8 Aug 2011)
Stunning artistic memorial to victims of gender violence - Bagpuss (7 Aug 2011)
Stage adaptation that’s just about purrfect
WitTank
4 star shows
- 3D Hamlet: A Lost Generation
(12 Aug 2011)
Strong acting secures the Bard a place in the 21st century - Andrew Maxwell (12 Aug 2011)
Blistering set from the mercurial Dubliner - Daniel Sloss - The Joker (12 Aug 2011)
Ridiculously talented young comedy buck - Jen Brister is British(ish) (12 Aug 2011)
Wonderfully madcap look at identity - Lee Camp Is: Yet Another American Mistake (12 Aug 2011)
Rabble-rousing American gets mad at current affairs - Mark Thomas: Extreme Rambling (Walking the Wall) (12 Aug 2011)
Following a dangerous tourist trail - Orkestra del Sol's Top Trumps (12 Aug 2011)
Balkan, gypsy and polka sounds in a musical face-off - Tim and Light (12 Aug 2011)
An ode to friendship for all ages - You Once Said Yes (12 Aug 2011)
Exhilarating interactive experience - Allotment (11 Aug 2011)
Sweetly observed play taking place on a real allotment with free cup of tea - Anton's Uncles (11 Aug 2011)
Chekhov remixed as a highly entertaining divertissement - Belleville Rendez-vous (11 Aug 2011)
Inventive adaptation of Gallic animated classic - Bones (11 Aug 2011)
Honest examination of real life on the dole - The Girl With The Iron Claws (11 Aug 2011)
A fairytale for grown-ups - The Incredible Book Eating Boy (11 Aug 2011)
Quirky five-minute adaptation of much-loved children’s book - Lounge Room Confabulators (11 Aug 2011)
Aussie troubadours paying home visits - Pinocchio: A Fantasy of Pleasures (11 Aug 2011)
Adults-only retelling is decidedly not Disney - The Room (11 Aug 2011)
Gloriously awful Rocky Horror-style particapatory film screening - Slender Threads (11 Aug 2011)
Sensitive portrayal of a woman’s experience of cancer - Soy de Cuba (11 Aug 2011)
Song and dance spectacular a real feel-good Fringe show - Ten Plagues (11 Aug 2011)
Intense, moving Marc Almond-starring plague musical strikes a chord - The Wheel (11 Aug 2011)
Innocence lost in war-torn Spain - Shylock (9 Aug 2011)
Gareth Armstrong and Guy Masterson take us behind the mask of Shakespeare’s Jew - Colm O’Regan: Dislike! A Facebook Guide to Crisis (8 Aug 2011)
Funny and informative social networking guide to Irish history - Des Clarke - Des Comedy Jam (8 Aug 2011)
Hilarious patter will leave both locals and out-of-towners in a good place - Generation 9/11: So Far / So Close (8 Aug 2011)
Captivating and quietly profound one-man show - Nick Pynn (8 Aug 2011)
One-man folk orchestra - The Oh Fuck Moment (8 Aug 2011)
Uneasily entertaining afternoon of reflection on human frailty - One Night Stan (8 Aug 2011)
Excellent one-man show based on life of Stan Laurel - Pope Benedict: Bond Villain (8 Aug 2011)
Provocative and brilliantly witty hour on religion and economic meltdown - Suitcase Royale in Zombatland (8 Aug 2011)
Late-night, top-notch hour of blues music, B-list horror and slapstick - Tim Clare: How to Be a Leader (8 Aug 2011)
Frequently inventive show includes rousing series of raps about iconic women - Tom Price: Say When (8 Aug 2011)
Torchwood actor ebullient, warm and thoroughly engaging - Alma Mater (8 Aug 2011)
Immersive, lovely look at childhood innocence and loss - Craig Campbell (8 Aug 2011)
Natural observational storytelling - Korean Drum: Journey of a Soul (8 Aug 2011)
Dance to the rhythm of life - Minute After Midday (8 Aug 2011)
Pared-down performance based on Omagh bombing - Roar (8 Aug 2011)
Stylish, sexy romp is frequently hilarious but not without emotion - Simon Callow in Tuesday at Tescos (8 Aug 2011)
Transgender monologue that’s dressed to kill - Soweto Entsha (8 Aug 2011)
South African songs from the heart - 101 (8 Aug 2011)
Group hugs, cult chants and it’s all your fault - The Table (8 Aug 2011)
Puppet show silliness backed up by serious skill - Uncharted Waters (8 Aug 2011)
Homage to life on the waves told through aerial circus skills - A Slow Air (8 Aug 2011)
Nationhood explored and deplored - Barry and Stuart (8 Aug 2011)
Showing and telling their magical mysteries - Death Song (8 Aug 2011)
Intense story of loss and secrets - Elegy (8 Aug 2011)
Moving story of a flight from persecution - Fiona O'Loughlin: Spirited (Tales from an Angel in a Bottle) (8 Aug 2011)
Bloody funny, just don’t show her the Bloody Marys - Ford and Akram: Humdinger (8 Aug 2011)
Yin and yang do silly and surreal - Frisky and Mannish: Pop Centre Plus (8 Aug 2011)
Wry ribbing of pop culture - Glenn Wool: No Lands Man (8 Aug 2011)
Hobo comic’s killer dispatches - I Hope My Heart Goes First (8 Aug 2011)
Remarkable young company delves into matters of the heart - James Acaster: Amongst Other Things (8 Aug 2011)
Mixing up the comedy flavours - Matthew Crosby: AdventureParty (8 Aug 2011)
A safe and hilarious haven for geeks and nerds - Mission Drift (8 Aug 2011)
The TEAM achieve the huge, soaring size of their ambitions - Sheeps: A Sketch Show (8 Aug 2011)
Confidence and skill ooze from Footlights alumni - Sink or Spin (8 Aug 2011)
It’s gym life, but not as we know it - Spent (8 Aug 2011)
Razor-sharp agit prop satire - Whistle (8 Aug 2011)
Extraordinary true-life tale
3 star shows
- Carey Marx
(12 Aug 2011)
The thinking man’s shock jock - Carl Donnelly 3: Carl Donnelier! (12 Aug 2011)
Meandering tales that finally pay off - Christmas for Two: Friends With You (12 Aug 2011)
Variable sketch show of audacious surrealism - Gavin Webster: All Young People Are C**ts (12 Aug 2011)
Likeably profane and bitter hour - The Golden Dragon (12 Aug 2011)
Global stories to take away - Keith Farnan: Money, Money, Money (12 Aug 2011)
Well-informed monologue about money - King of Scotland (12 Aug 2011)
Strong presentation of Iain Heggie’s second best monologue - Late Night Gimp Fight! (12 Aug 2011)
Fast-paced sketches are more smutty than obscene - Nick Helm - Dare to Dream (12 Aug 2011)
Shouty Marmite musical act - Toby - Lucky (12 Aug 2011)
Divisive duo spark a riot of tutting and scowling - Audience (11 Aug 2011)
Ontroerend Goed slip out of the major league with cynical show - The Ballet Ruse (11 Aug 2011)
Sneaking a cheeky peek at the secret lives of ballerinas - Blood and Roses (11 Aug 2011)
Multi-sensory journey with history’s courageous women - Carmen Sylva (11 Aug 2011)
Established artists take on a new and exciting identity - Cutting the Cord (11 Aug 2011)
Tragicomedy exploring immigration via young Japanese woman in London - Forgetting Natasha (11 Aug 2011)
Multimedia memories with excellent choreography - Norman McBeath & Robert Crawford: Body Bags / Simonides (11 Aug 2011)
Mournful collaboration between photographer and poet - Pasta! Macaroni Puppet's Show (11 Aug 2011)
Children's show where pasta comes to life - Snails and Ketchup (11 Aug 2011)
Dynamic one-man Calvino adaptation - Turandot (11 Aug 2011)
A radical completion of Puccini's unfinished opera - Lord of the Flies (10 Aug 2011)
William Golding’s classic novel slightly adjusted for modern times - Thirsty (9 Aug 2011)
Powerful physical evocation of the relationship between women and alcohol - Andi Osho: All the Single Ladies (8 Aug 2011)
Confidently breezing through hour of self-deprecating enjoyable comedy - Anil Desai (8 Aug 2011)
Fantastic audience rapport and likeable charm, but unchallenging - The Billie Holiday Story (8 Aug 2011)
Enjoyable insight into a unique talent - Bring Me the Head of Adam Riches (8 Aug 2011)
Provocative onstage antics not for the faint of heart - David Morgan: Triple Threat (8 Aug 2011)
Show taking in musical theatre, childhood bullying and homophobia - Des Bishop - My Dad Was Nearly James Bond (8 Aug 2011)
Largely funny, tender and acutely observed ode to late father - Dream Pill (8 Aug 2011)
Poignant insight into the unsettling reality of sex work in the UK - Dregs (8 Aug 2011)
Character-based sketches maintain constant audience engagement - Fear of a Brown Planet (8 Aug 2011)
Audience-friendly jovial banter about Islam, Michael Jackson and Barack Obama - Fred MacAulay: Legally Bald (8 Aug 2011)
For straightforward traditional stand-up, MacAulay’s your man - Guilt and Shame (8 Aug 2011)
Sketches which get increasingly filthier and funnier - Hal Sparks - Evolution Overdrive (8 Aug 2011)
Impressive delivery with theme of humankind’s ongoing evolution - Jason Cook - The Search for Happiness (8 Aug 2011)
An hour of pleasant company, although lacking memorable friction - Jessica Fostekew: Luxury Tramp (8 Aug 2011)
Observational humour with a confessional edge - Joel Dommett: Neon Hero (8 Aug 2011)
Celebrity crush tale an from assured and skilled performer - John Robertson - Blood & Charm: Disturbing Stories for Disturbing Bedtimes (8 Aug 2011)
Tightly-scripted surreal monologue full of fascinating true stories - Lady Garden (8 Aug 2011)
Successful series of standalone and recurring sketches - Nobody’s Home: A Modern Odyssey (8 Aug 2011)
Powerful portrayal of mental illness - One Under (8 Aug 2011)
Energetic piece of devised theatre based on London Underground - Pete Firman: Jiggery Pokery (8 Aug 2011)
Magic routines with an enjoyable line in potty-mouthed sarcasm - Ray Time in the Daytime: An Audience With Ray Green and Friends (8 Aug 2011)
TV presenter character halfway between Partridge and Brent - Run, Deaf Boy, Run! (8 Aug 2011)
Engaging, heart-warming tale told with skill from deaf comedian Steve Day - Stuart Goldsmith (8 Aug 2011)
A pleasant romp, amusingly delivered, this is easy, assured comedy - Tom Stade: What Year Was That? (8 Aug 2011)
Whimsy and shock humour make for easy, if not entirely guilt-free, laughs - Tony Law: Go Mr Tony Go! (8 Aug 2011)
Surrealist joyride is brash, loud and joyously raucous - Totally Tom (8 Aug 2011)
Impressive range of comedic prowess and accents - Zeus’ Pamphlet (8 Aug 2011)
Enjoyable show combines familiar with the more inventive - 2401 Objects (8 Aug 2011)
Remarkable neuroscience story - At The Sans Hotel (8 Aug 2011)
A sophisticated exploration of the form/content dichotomy - Belt Up’s The Boy James (8 Aug 2011)
Well-executed drama based on JM Barrie's childhood - David Reed: Shamblehouse (8 Aug 2011)
Great lines but lots of filler - Diane Spencer: All-Pervading Madness (8 Aug 2011)
Don’t judge a comic by their gentle demeanour - Katri Walker: North West (8 Aug 2011)
Intriguing exploration of Scottish/Wild West links - The Magical Faraway Tree (8 Aug 2011)
Multi-character comedy not really based on Enid Blyton tale - Pop-Up! The Amazing Adventures of Moo-Dong (8 Aug 2011)
The art of entertaining - Slavery to Star Trek (8 Aug 2011)
Autobiographical show taking in Martin Luther King and Malcolm X - Dance Marathon (8 Aug 2011)
Sweat-slicked endurance test - Francesca Martinez (8 Aug 2011)
A charmingly caustic look at ‘normal’ - Somewhere Beneath It All, A Small Fire Burns Still (8 Aug 2011)
Monologue that’s less than straightforward - A Celebration of Harold Pinter (8 Aug 2011)
Pinter wonderland manages not to sink beneath the hype - Catie Wilkins: A Chip Off the Odd Block (8 Aug 2011)
Enthusiastic and wry story about parents - The Chronicles of Bitter and Twisted (8 Aug 2011)
Charming and cheeky fairy tale sequel - Comedy Club 4 Kids (8 Aug 2011)
Heckle-happy crowd nearly stump the pros - Dave Gorman's Power Point Presentation (8 Aug 2011)
Inspired PowerPoint presentation from the genial everyman - The Infant (8 Aug 2011)
Absurdist comedy with a Gothic feel - John Peel’s Shed (8 Aug 2011)
Intimate musings on the joy of radio - The Just So Stories (8 Aug 2011)
Colourful and engaging adaptation of Kipling’s well known tales - Katherine Ryan: Little Miss Conception (8 Aug 2011)
An edgy story of pageant culture - Laurence Clark: Health Hazard! (8 Aug 2011)
Uncovering the truths about US health care - Margaret Cho (8 Aug 2011)
San Franciscan in town to have lots of sex, please - My Name is Hannibal: The Hannibal Montanabal Experience (8 Aug 2011)
Intelligent dissections of comedy and life - Paul Daniels (8 Aug 2011)
You’re going to like this . . . - Sanderson Jones (8 Aug 2011)
Pleasingly foppish semi-shambles - Scary Gorgeous (8 Aug 2011)
Girls gone wild - Under The Baobab Tree (8 Aug 2011)
Animal tales from Africa - What Remains (8 Aug 2011)
Plenty of creep, not enough deep - Who Are The Jocks? (8 Aug 2011)
A multi-faceted tale of love and loss - Ahir Shah (7 Aug 2011)
Stars in his eyes - Bridget Christie (7 Aug 2011)
Slapdash slapstick sloppy stand-up - Rock the Ballet (7 Aug 2011)
Pop-rock ballet makes for pure entertainment from Rasta Thomas’s Bad Boys - The Tim Bat Trick Show (7 Aug 2011)
Slickness and silliness in equal measure - Wedding Band: A Comedy by Charlie Baker (7 Aug 2011)
Crooner delivers a gentle comic play
2 star shows
- Benny Boot: Set-Up, Punchline… Pause for Laughter
(12 Aug 2011)
The secrets of comedy remain a mystery here - Eric Lampaert (12 Aug 2011)
An engaging but ultimately flat Eric - James Galea: I Hate Rabbits (12 Aug 2011)
High on production values, low on magic - Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov (12 Aug 2011)
Depressing tale of decay of the upper classes in Russia - Mark Twain Abroad (11 Aug 2011)
Dramatic recreation of a lecture by the famous author lacks panache - The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (11 Aug 2011)
Children’s adaptation that’s hard to follow - Alistair Green: Outpatient (8 Aug 2011)
Entertaining riffs in illness-themed show not for the squeamish - Bob Downe: 20 Golden Greats (8 Aug 2011)
Lively hour of high camp, but with only a handful of gags - Brett Goldstein Grew Up in a Strip Club (8 Aug 2011)
Endearing personality wins over crowd despite lacklustre material - Catriona Knox (8 Aug 2011)
Signs of promise but dialogue lacks punch - Clare Plested: Vegas, Jesus and Me (8 Aug 2011)
Nicely observed impressions from adorable lady but comedy is patchy - Colin Hoult (8 Aug 2011)
Talented and energetic performer targets UK provinces - Indoor Fox Hunting (8 Aug 2011)
Some lovely ideas, but tightening up of content and delivery required - Jeff Leach: A Leach On Society (8 Aug 2011)
Energetic gross-out comedy with possibly divisive material - Joe Wilkinson: My Mum's Called Stella and My Dad's Called Brian (8 Aug 2011)
Underpowered affair from BBC Three’s Him & Her - The Life Doctor (8 Aug 2011)
Channelling of the most irksome of TV lifestyle gurus disappoints - Matt Rudge (8 Aug 2011)
Natural warmth let down by meandering dialogue - Nathan Caton: Get Rich or Die Cryin' (8 Aug 2011)
Glimmers of brilliance from likeable comedian - Rayguns Look Real Enough: Balls Deep (8 Aug 2011)
Thematically-arranged medleys from emphatic performer with laboured set of puns - Ro Campbell: Uttering Bad Shillings (8 Aug 2011)
Some nice stuff from Scottish Comedian of the Year, but few genuine laughs - Sex You (I’m Gonna) – featuring Nathan Phillips (8 Aug 2011)
More sophisticated than it advertises itself to be - Sideshow (8 Aug 2011)
Freakshow-themed one-man show lacks pay-off - Toulouse-Lautrec: The Musical (8 Aug 2011)
Japanese one-man show dedicated but lacking in pace and musical gravitas - Dr Apple’s Last Lecture (8 Aug 2011)
Energetic acting, but ultimately without a point - Remembering Annabel (8 Aug 2011)
Edgar Allan Poe adaptation feels messy despite flashes of humour - The Seagull Effect (8 Aug 2011)
Enthusiasm and visual techniques let down by overdone score and direction - Shhh: The Musical (8 Aug 2011)
Enthusiasm let down by unoriginal script and forgettable songs - The Curse of Macbeth (8 Aug 2011)
Great staging, shame about the acting - Doctor Brown (8 Aug 2011)
Silent and vulgar tedium - Free Run (8 Aug 2011)
Heavily padded parkour spectacle - It’s Uniformation Day (8 Aug 2011)
2001: A Space Odyssey got weird - Man of Valour (8 Aug 2011)
Mime and punishment - Nathan Dean Williams (8 Aug 2011)
Twisted pick ‘n’ mix - Robert Burns: Not in my Name (8 Aug 2011)
Tracing the final years of the Bard - Roisin Conaty (8 Aug 2011)
‘Dickhead’ on a mission to achieve zen - Tom Green (8 Aug 2011)
Porn and meat-fuelled non-event - Wondrous Flitting (8 Aug 2011)
Absurdist parable that doesn’t quite work - Neil by Mouth (7 Aug 2011)
Energy and whimsy but far too many groans
1 star shows
- Alice in Wonderland and Other Adventures With Lewis Carroll
(8 Aug 2011)
Badly sung songs, ill-fitting costumes and stilted delivery - Brown and Corley: Born in the 80s (8 Aug 2011)
Like bad school drama production - The Dipper (8 Aug 2011)
Utter nonsense misses the mark completely - Terezin: Children of the Holocaust (8 Aug 2011)
Fictionalised account of a concert fails to convey emotional weight - Radio Deluxembourg (8 Aug 2011)
Parodic retro-kitsch with utterly unfunny script and weary cast
