Brian Neill
The Kelpie, the Loch and the Water of Life
★★★☆☆ Radio fun
Arkle’s The Kelpie, the Loch and the Water of Life is an ideal mid-afternoon diversion for the last week of the Fringe.
Cyrano de Bergerac
★★★★☆ Unexpectedly touching
There is an almost wilfully uneven quality to Arkle’s Cyrano de Bergerac at the Hill Street Theatre, but – eschewing much of the heroic bombast that is usually associated with the play – it manages to be convincing and affecting.
The Curious Case of Osgood Mackenzie
★★★☆☆ Unusual staging
The Curious Case of Osgood Mackenzie, from Arkle at the Royal Scots Club, is a well researched slice of Scottish history, presented in a way that has genuine novelty.
crackers
★★★☆☆ Strong performances
Edinburgh based writer cmf wood’s crackers, at the Royal Scots Club, performed by EGTG explores the stigma attached to mental ill-health, particularly amongst teenagers.
The Venetian Twins
★★★★☆ Finest farce
Two years after they were meant to be bringing The Venetian Twins to Hill Street Theatre, Arkle Theatre Company’s production of Tony Cowie’s adaptation of the play finally made it to the theatre on Wednesday night. It was well worth the wait.
shrapnel
★★★☆☆ Timely
There is a timeliness and emotional truth to Shrapnel, Production Lines’s online play by CMFWood, that is enhanced by being presented live.
Skirt
★★★★☆ Challenging stereotypes:
Can women really have it all? is the question on everyone’s minds in Skirt, Claire Wood’s thought-provoking play for the Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Company at the Royal Scots Club.
Outside Mullingar
★★★☆☆ Recognisably truthful:
Gentle comedy and believable emotion predominate in Arkle Theatre’s accomplished Outside Mullingar at the Royal Scots Club.
Festen
✭✭✭✭✩ Dark matters:
There is a fierce intensity to the Grads’ Festen at Adam House, in a consistently strong production that crackles with energy.
Weekend Breaks
✭✭✭✩✩ Carefully honed
Arkle Theatre Company’s accomplished production of John Godber’s Weekend Breaks probably gives more care and attention to the material than it deserves.
