Burns for Brunch
★★★★☆ Anti-Brexit Rabbie
Scottish Storytelling Centre (Venue 30): Thurs 1 – Sun 26 Aug 2019
Review by Federica Balbi
Robert Burns wakes up hungover among empty bottles. He’s the real Rabbie, even though he talks about Brexit in Theatre Objektiv’s hilarious Burns for Breakfast at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
After a while, he realises he should have tidied up, as he had invited us for brunch and then forgotten about it. His monologue touches on many aspects of the poet’s life, in a play that flexes time and is set in the 18th century as well as 2019.
Gavin Paul. Pic: Charlie Parker – Broken Blonde Films
The picture Gavin Paul creates of the Scottish national poet is both exhilarating and self-ironical. He’s a poor Casanova, loves drinking, is always running after his dog and he likes to laugh at such serious issues as the danger of being arrested. For this light-hearted artist, poetry is fun as well as emotional.
Some of Burns’ poems are performed in their musical versions. Gavin Paul’s voice moves and delights, with no need for instrumental accompaniment. Raymond Raszkowski Ross’s script combines physical sketches (not necessarily new, but comic nonetheless) with a witty and ʻeducatedʼ kind of entertainment.
On the one hand, it laughs at today’s world while referencing Scottish cultural heritage and common knowledge. On the other, it also actively includes the audience in the narrative and in the scenic actions.
The famous Address to a Haggis cannot be missing, but its satirical side is exposed to a greater degree, as the traditional supper has been replaced by an alcoholic brunch. New times, new costumes…
Running time: 1 hour (no interval)
Scottish Storytelling Centre – Library, 43-45 High Street, EH1 1SR (Venue 30)
Thursday 1 – Monday 26 August 2019
Daily (not Mondays 5, 12, 19): 11.30am
Tickets and details: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/burns-for-brunch
Company site: www.theatreobjektiv.co.uk
ENDS
