Plague, Poo ‘n’ Punishment
★★★★☆ Entertaining
Greenside @ Riddles Court (Venue16): Fri 2 -Sun 24 (not 11, 18) Aug 2024
Review by Eilidh Sim
Plague, Poo ‘n’ Punishment is a fun filled comedy show presenting stories of Edinburgh’s gory history, from Edinburgh Storytellers Ltd at Greenside @ Riddles Court.
Brings parts of Edinburgh’s history to life through comedy and song makes for an entertaining and educational performance. Add some participation from the audience and this production is enjoyable for both children and adults alike.
Natalie Nardone and Ben Nardone. Pic: Edinburgh Storytellers
The judge played by Ben Nardone, along with Natalie Nardone as the clerk, set the scene of a courthouse with the audience playing the role of the jury. The pair present a new case to the court, the mystery of the missing crown jewels, and with the help of the jury try to discover who is responsible and whether the accused are innocent or guilty.
Over the course of the show the two discuss other cases they have worked on. The Clerk recites the horrifying crimes of grave-robbers turned murders Burke and Hare. There are also mentions of the plague and the believed cures, along with the sewage situation of Edinburgh in which people would throw their waste out of the window, yelling gardyloo.
Natalie Nardone plays an enthusiastic Clerk, and with her warm approach engages the younger audience members into the story. This is contrasted by Ben Nardone’s more serious judge, which is successful in creating a variation of personalities, allowing for chemistry between the characters. The pair’s bounce off of each other effortlessly.
gruesome
The production gets into gruesome topics in a lighthearted way, perfect for children, which allows the audience to learn about history while still having fun, in a similar informative yet harmless style and tone to TV’s Horrible Histories.
Audience participation is highly encouraged. Questions are encouraged while there are interactive songs and dances.
The space is used well, and despite the sparse set, a chair, box and whiteboard, the pair make clever use of such minimal props as wigs and sunglasses.
While this production is educational, it is equally filled with laughter. An entertaining experience, which never dulls.
Running Time: 50 Minutes (with no interval)
Greenside @ Riddles Court (Thistle Theatre), 322 Lawnmarket, EH1 2PG (Venue16),
Fri 2 – Sun 24 Aug 2024
Daily (not 11, 18): 10.20am.
Tickets and details: Book here.
ENDS
