Review of the Aber Fringe

‘WHO’S AFRAID OF VIGINIA WOOLF?’ FROM THE NOMADIC PLAYERS

Good accents.  Nick was completely believeable, every word he pronounced was with conviction.  I was pleasently surprised that they were able to get a toy gun but I wonder if it would have been better with a little more suspence.  It’s either/or for that part.  Honey (Lucy O’Sullivan) was hilarously high pitched.  David Bowie and The Rolling Stones blended nicely between the acts and scenes.  Good attention to detail.  Martha (Nia Rowena Hall) was spendidly over the top and cringingly seductive. Ryan Probert portrayed George surprsingly well for a man well under half the character’s age.

‘THE ICONIC SHOWCASE’ FROM CURTAIN CALL

Will Adler is a stealer of some parts in shows, he flows with talent and sophistication.  He would be easy to hate if he wasn’t easier to love.  ‘On My Own’ from Les Misarble by Abbie Bird was sad and moving.  The telephone song was impressive for being complicated.  As was the song ‘Betrayed’ from The Producers, which was a mad box of a song sung madly.  The people from Forum had a cheeky song doubling as an advert but shameless self-promotion are what these nights are made for and enjoyed.

‘PLAYARAMA PRESENTS…’ FROM PLAYARAMA

Pleasant variety of sketch, physical acts, monologues, verbal, slapstick, light and sounds.  They present the possibilites of theatre.  Very funny monologue that sparked with wit and spoken with polish.  Plenty of talent.  Adulterary at the supermarket seemed to be written stale but the actors cannot be at fault for that.  Chris’ piece was interesting experiment at poetic image of the artist seating facing away from the auidence while two dancers struggle with each other and another skechters the movements as a whole.  Adam and Conors’ show a real flair for comedy.  Scott Johnson took to the stage with great aplom and Chris was good at playing the straight man.

‘ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD’ FROM THE NOMADIC PLAYERS

How the directors managed to decide which lines to cut from Stoppard’s script goes beyond my understanding but even with an hour taken out there was still more than enough jokes to laugh over and then think about later.  Lead Actor in the Trope was wonderfully thespian and over the top.  Hamlet played as a drunk was an entertaining modern interpretation, as was the overtly sexist Claudio.       

‘QUEUE’ FROM EXPLODING FISH

Stylish, an incredible performance of a simple story using sights lights sounds and props lots of props.  Characters were well defined, made me cheering for a geuiniely well fought for happy ending.  Involving and absorbing.  Shows the power of devised theatre.  Iconic, creepy, funny and moving.  Impressed me greatly.  A group who have worked very hard and deserved a larger auidence than what they received.  Amazing use of the space showing just what theatre is for, for making you believe that when a man steps into a curtain covering a wall you actually think he goes into another room.