list.co.uk/festival Reviews | FESTIVAL KIDS
P H O T O
: L O R N A J A N E N E W M A N
THE TOPSY-TURVY HOTEL A fun hour for families ●●●●●
MAVIS SPARKLE Captivating and magical solo show ●●●●● CALVINBALL Perfectly pitched outdoor show ●●●●●
If you found yourself staying at this far-from- reputable establishment during your holiday, it would be a living nightmare of 4am breakfasts and double-booked rooms. But for an hour during the Fringe, the Topsy Turvy Hotel is a fine place to be. Inside you’ll encounter incompetent hotel manager Fernando, cleaning-obsessed chamber maid Peggy Pillow, loathsome property tycoon Roger Bungalow, his wannabe artist sidekick Brenda Bagshot, and kitchen worker Jeff the Chef. All of whom are played by just two people – Fringe comedy scene regulars, Jody Kamali and Jo Neary.
Not only do these performers know their way around a quick behind-the-scenes costume change, their back-and-forth with the audience (both scripted and improvised) sets everyone at ease, producing more than a few laughs.
While this may not be the slickest production in town, or the most sophisticated storyline, there’s something loveably rough around the edges about both the hotel and the show. And what’s not to enjoy about an entire audience throwing plastic balls at the cast, and them reacting, all in slow motion? (Kelly Apter) ■ Sweet Grassmarket, until 20 Aug (not 9), 12.25pm, £7 (£5).
If only cleaning the house was as much fun as Mavis Sparkle makes it, kids would be helping out like a shot. Standing next to her trolley, filled with mops, brushes and sprays, she takes a break from her job as a cleaner to chat to the audience. We learn about her long-held dream to see the Northern Lights, and watch her re-enact her childhood, touring theatres with her magician parents. Produced by the M6 Theatre Company, this charming one-woman show is a mix of magic, storytelling, puppetry and imaginative set design. Performer Eve Robertson has an infectious enthusiasm, while the aforementioned trolley is a gift that keeps on giving, with one door after another opening to reveal something new (including Spikey the hedgehog, Mavis’ faithful companion).
The sleight of hand illusions are relatively basic; raising a smile more than a sense of awe with today’s savvy kids. But each one is performed by Mavis with a flourish, giving little ones something new to hold their interest, while older children and adults take in the show’s deeper meaning about embracing new things and looking for the miraculous in the everyday. (Kelly Apter) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, until 20 Aug, 11am, £7.50–£9.50 (£6.50–£9).
Toddlers are natural anarchists, so they take to the almost completely rule-free game of Calvinball like small, squirming, noisy ducks to water. Calvinball is the favourite sport of Bill Watterson’s
beloved Calvin and Hobbes, recreated as an outdoor show by Ipdip theatre company, who speak fluent baby. Our comic-strip heroes are notably absent, as is any real story or characterisation – this show pitches itself squarely at under-fours who aren’t particularly interested in sitting still, and uses physical clowning, fluffy props and balls and direct interaction to keep everyone engaged.
It’s no mean feat to keep even one toddler focused in the open air for a whole show, let alone 20 of them. The cast interact with each audience member on their own level, improvising wildly, chucking in song and dance, and accommodating potential scene-stealers who demand to be part of the action. My own tiny reviewer loved it so much he tried to stage-invade the next performance.
Grown-ups be warned: this is not the sort of show to offer a sly wink to any adults in the audience. Switch your irony meter off and give in to the orange chaos, just for a while. (Kirstin Innes) ■ Royal Botanic Garden, until 27 Aug (not 15, 22), 11am, 2pm & 3pm, £5.
IS THIS A DAGGER? THE STORY OF MACBETH A new and accessible Scottish Play for younger audiences ●●●●●
Storyteller, performer and ex-artistic director of acclaimed children's theatre company Wee Stories, Andy Cannon has hit upon a perfectly realised piece of entertaining and informative theatre here, in association with Red Bridge Arts. Performed on the Royal Mile in the Scottish Storytelling Centre, it's hard to imagine Is This a Dagger? The Story of Macbeth finding a more appropriate setting or context in which to be enjoyed.
This re-telling of Shakespeare’s Scottish Play in simple,
contemporary language is suitable not just for younger audiences, but for anyone who may not feel comfortable contending with the original text. As ever, Cannon is a dependably reassuring performer
who keeps a tight hold on every beat of the tale, giving the story more of the flow of a contemporary film. It's an exciting and not disrespectful treatment, given the show’s intended audience. That he performs the story wearing a kilt may not be unexpected, but the manner in which he makes so much out of so little certainly is. Props are very limited, and thoughtfully effective: there's the folded paper crown of King Duncan made from a map, for example, and different pairs of sunglasses represent each of the witches.
Long after he's established our confidence, Cannon breaks off from the expressive and involving re-enactment to point out that the tale is in fact a tragedy and not a comedy. Yet the infectious, easy-going humour that he brings to the famous tragedy papers over the more gruesome events without diminishing them. And even if you know Macbeth well already, look out for the intriguing short epilogue about the origins of the play and its characters. (David Pollock) ■ Scottish Storytelling Centre, until 20 Aug (not 17), 3pm, £9 (£7).
10–17 Aug 2017 THE LIST FESTIVAL 73