Reviews & features: Natalya Wells
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If That's All There Is?
26 Aug 2011
Eccentric study of a banal relationship
What happens when you realise the man you're marrying is actually utterly dull? Such is the fate that befalls Frances, no sooner than her new husband Daniel has finished his painfully long wedding speech. In the opening scene, we are the guests and as…
The Pretender
26 Aug 2011
One man show about lying gets out of control
Lying: people often do it to get over life's hurdles. Whether in politics, relationships, or childhood, lies are part of everyday social tactics, but can often spiral out of control. In this play, we're complicit in one such fib. Our host, a nameless…
The Simple Things in Life
24 Aug 2011
Five opportunities to meditate on what we should value
Against the backdrop of festival chaos, Fuel theatre provides individual spaces for a slightly different, enclosed experience. Walking through the gates of the Botanic Gardens already provides respite from pounding the cobbles of the Royal Mile, and the…
You Wouldn't Know Him, He Lives in Texas
23 Aug 2011
An innovative concept that needs thinking through
The title of this show refers to the boyfriend of Lizzie, who will, if you buy a ticket, invite you to her party. The purpose of the gathering is to introduce us (her 'friends') to her beloved Ryan, all the way from Austin. But of course, he won't be…
Vive le Cabaret
22 Aug 2011
Fishnets, comedy and clowning share the bill
Made up like a goth-clown in a tail suit, the cabaret ringmaster bounds onto the stage accompanied by glitzy peacock-tailed dancers. There’s a desperate attempt to emphasise the sexiness of this show, with some forced audience interaction and calls for…
Bash
19 Aug 2011
Utterly convincing and compelling
With no set, no more than a few props, and only the faint murmur of a soundtrack, this show relies solely on its script and actors' abilities: it's lucky that they're both brilliant. Neil LaBute's three monologues, first shown in 1999, unravel moments…
Evelyn Evelyn
19 Aug 2011
Adorable freakshow from Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley
Part comedy, part freak show, and part Americana folk, this act from Amanda Palmer (she of Dresden Dolls fame) and Jason Webley presents, as our host Thomas Truax claims, the world’s first conjoined-twin singer-songwriters. Born in 1985, the twins are…
Shlomo: Mouthtronica
14 Aug 2011
Incredible noise-making skill from a loveable entertainer
Shlomo has been practising his art since he was a child. Growing up in an Iraqi-Israeli family in London, he dreamed of playing the drums on Top Of The Pops but to avoid disturbing the neighbours, practised rhythms using only his mouth. It wasn’t until…
How I Invented Hip Hop. . . And Other Faux Pas
14 Aug 2011
Overly styled idea taken too far
It’s hard to know what the joke in this act is – does it mock hip-hop, or the posh English accent? The two are combined in what Mr B, The Gentleman Rhythmer, has termed ‘Chap-hop’, but playing the ‘Straight outta Surrey’ card doesn’t work for longer…
