Susan Wright

Brazilian Fever

Hot Latin moves fail to ignite a proper fire

23 Aug 2009

You can’t help but feel cheated by this show. Promising to be a ‘Brazilian cabaret variety show fusing samba, funk, afro and jazz dance routines with theatrical and seductive compositions’, it’s more of a sparse two-woman routine taking place in an old…

Something About Others

Thoughtful moves delivered on a big ideas soundtrack

8 Aug 2009

For a mere fiver, Something About Others delivers four brave modern ballet pieces in 45 minutes, through an entertaining soundscape that moves from classical to club anthem by way of a medieval haunt. You might not derive all the nuances of the stories…

Lola: The Life of Lola Montez

Biographical flamenco drama

30 Jul 2009

During the 19th century, Irish-born Lola Montez plied a career as an unlikely Spanish dancer across Europe, Australia and the US while bedding the likes of King Ludwig I of Bavaria along the way. Her story is one of scandal and celebrity. ‘Lola is a…

Zeitgeist

Butoh-inspired bravery

23 Jul 2009

Created by innovative Queensland-based Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre, Zeitgeist comes to the Fringe loaded with intrigue and unabashed sex appeal. According to director, Lynne Bradley, audiences can expect ‘55 minutes of nightmarish fantasy and eight…

Arirang Party

Mighty percussion and dance

27 Aug 2008

Arirang Party turns the volume up to a level that would definitely disturb the neighbours. It’s a shame that much of the mighty din comes from a recorded soundtrack, albeit an often beautiful and curvaceous one that emits Andean and Celtic vibes.

Family

Martial arts and B-boy battles

21 Aug 2008

Head spins. Body spins. Spinning hand stands. Spinning kicks. Spinning on one hand. This energetic show from Korea makes outrageous martial arts and breakdance moves look so effortless that you begin to believe you could do it all yourself.

Paperweight

Flawed peek into daily office life

14 Aug 2008

Squeezing into one of the tiniest Fringe venues – a modest office in the Assembly Rooms – this two-man show is about as up close and personal as you can get to what’s happening onstage. Arrive early for a seat: you have the choice of a box against the…

Married to the Sea

Poetic writing tells a coastal tale of loss and decline

14 Aug 2008

A sparse stage and a small cast of three belie the detail in this lyrical tale from the fledgling Dragonfly Theatre. Set against the decline of Galway’s old Claddagh seafaring community, writer/director Shona McCarthy’s first full-length play could have…

Hemingway's Havana

Buena Vista vibe heavy on Hemingway

14 Aug 2008

Featuring Cuban music legends, such as Papa Oviedo (master of the guitar-like tres), diva singer Siomara Valdes and nimble salsa legend Eric Turro, Hemingway's Havana puts up all the signs of being a sure-fire winner, and then takes the edge off with a…

Rise

The oppressive side of urban life

14 Aug 2008

Gotham City meets the streets of Bladerunner in this atmospheric exploration of urban angst. Donned in hoodies and combats, five performers invoke an overpowering claustrophobia as they fight tension and pressure through slow-motion breaks and…

Children of the Khmer

Cambodian song and dance

7 Aug 2008

This is as inspiring as it gets. An ensemble of young talented performers from Cambodia delivering perfectly orchestrated dance routines that are soulful, funny, enthusiastic and set against a powerful musical backdrop. It starts off on a mellow…

Sa-Choom

Sensory Korean overload

7 Aug 2008

They call it a dance musical but Sa-Choom is more like a happy assault vehicle. Big beats mix with big smiles in a rolling collision of breakdancing, martial arts, techno, hip hop and glossy pop. It’s all about feeling good, and with the verve and…

Bale de Rua

Brazilian back flips and beats

7 Aug 2008

The gorgeous Bale de Rua troupe rules the stage with enthralling drum beats, breathless body movements and innovative set pieces. Telling a loose story of the slaves who came to Brazil, this semblance of structure bows down before a musical journey that…

Capoeira Knights

Brazilian back flips and beats

7 Aug 2008

Taking over a modest stage at The World in Shandwick Place, the Capoeira Knights bring a piece of the favelas to Edinburgh. Less elaborate than Bale de Rua, this is nevertheless packed with muscle, attitude and a big hunk of upbeat Brazilian soul.

Pebbles on the Beach

7 Aug 2008

Leo's in his late-20s and would be one of your mates down the pub if he wasn't stranded on Brighton beach facing past lovers and demons with the universe warping around him. Decent performances and a clever time-shifting narrative work to deliver a tale…

Faeries

7 Aug 2008

In 1917, two little girls took pictures of fairies in their garden, sparking nationwide interest in the existence of these tiny folk and inspiring this bright - at times Disneyesque - musical. Faeries sprinkles just enough fairy dust for anyone who…

Living with Johnny Depp

7 Aug 2008

There's some amusing physical comedy in this well-observed one-woman show about an academically challenged, Depp-obsessed 15-year-old convent school girl, but it loses focus in the middle and ultimately feels pointless and unsatisfying.