First Piano on the Moon
★★★★★ Captivating
Summerhall (Venue 26): 31 July – 18 Aug 2019
Review by Sarah Moyes
Will Pickvance puts in a captivating performance as a young boy on a journey to achieve his dreams in his latest production for those aged over 5, First Piano on the Moon, at Summerhall.
The story follows Will, a young boy who just loves to play piano and also happens to be very, very good at it. So, while his friends are all in school studying, he has been picked to travel to Salzburg (a city he doesn’t even know the location of) to play in a big concert to celebrate Mozart’s birthday.
Will Pickvance. Pic credit: A.S.K.
What comes next is a delightful hour of music and storytelling from Pickvance. The Old Anatomy Lecture Theatre in Summerhall is the perfect location for such a show with the audience sat in the old wooden lecture seats looking down on the piano as they would if they were there in Salzburg watching his actual performance.
In this one-man show, Pickvance uses only his piano – and later a chocolate cake shared out to the audience – as his props. For some this stripped back performance could be a risk given that it’s a children’s show, but he is an immensely engaging storyteller who draws children and adults alike into every word.
imagination
From Will getting the initial letter and heading off to the concert, to sneaking out of his room to practice before the big show, Pickvance uses the music from his piano to narrate the story of young Will and lets the audience use their imagination to help bring the story to life.
And as the show goes on, he plays adaptations of Mozart, Beethoven and Scott Joplin, of all which are incredible impressive as young Will is visited by the spirit of Mozart who helps him prepare for the show.
Not only can Pickvance play the piano well, but he is also skilled enough to add some musical tricks to the show, to the delight of the children in the audience, from playing blindfolded to lying down with his hands crossed behind his head.
A charming mix of music and storytelling, First Piano on the Moon is a show that the whole family can enjoy.
Running time: One hour (no interval)
Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL (Venue 26)
Wed 31 July – Sunday 19 August 2019
Daily (not Mon 12): 11.30am
Tickets and details: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/first-piano-on-the-moon-will-pickvance
Website: www.willpickvance.com
Twitter: @willpickvance
Facebook: @pickvance
ENDS
