Edinburgh Fringe Festival - reviews Traces, 7 Fingers, Truth in Translation.
Hi,
It is a long time since I have posted on here but I thought that I must do something asap - Just over the last few days the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has started and I have been doing very well getting to shows (for me at least).
Wednesday 1st August - went with Dad to the Assembly Gala Press Launch - essentially 2 hours of non stop excellence from a variety of acts all of whom are performing somewhere within the Assembly group of venues.
Highlight - edge of the seat stuff was for me "Traces - The 7 fingers" - astounding, brilliant, the best show I can remember seeing for ever etc etc - more later - I shall try not to run out of superlatives - but I honestly did like it.
Friday 3rd August - a busy day, after work straight to Traces then a beer then to Khalil Ashanti - a true story with all the characters played by Khalil - very good. Meet Ping and Richard for beer and then walk upto the other Assembly venue at the top of the Mound for Havana Rumba! who had also been on at the press launch.
Three good shows and beer - what an excellent day basically.
Traces - A world Champion circus / physical theatre / music act from Quebec, Canada who did this absolutely astoundingly good and enteratining show. Consisting of 5 members it is basically acrobatics , but that doesnt do enough justice to the whole piece - it is music, show, dance, everything ... I am sorry my word skills are not upto the job!! - Their website is here http://www.7fingers.com or www.7doights.com
I shall now give a few words to try and evoke memories for myself - regarding this show and clues to some of the vignettes within the show:- hoops, chair(s), poles, big hoop, chalk line, grand piano, music, skill, jump, hurdle, wonder, awe, incredible, edge of seat, sweaty, amazing, superb, beautiful, poignant, powerful, ....
Summarises as - if you have to choose one show from all that are on in Edinburgh throughout the festival then I recommend you see this one.
(I have no links with the group so this is not advertising hype).
There are some videos around like on this page by some of the other members of the group winning the world circus prize.
But better is this Youtube piece which is much more eloquent - also the great comments all apply for my thoughts on this show.
And this one also on Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hgxhPlYJw0
Go see them, sell your brothers and sisters to get a ticket etc etc.
Ok I shall write about the other shows a little more perfunctorily :-
Khalil Ashanti - multiple characters slipped into very quickly, expressively and humourously.
Havana Rumba! - makes me want to visit Cuba. Vibrant music, people and well the costumes!
Saturday 4th August - Truth in Translation - Oh gosh - a very powerful, well crafted, beautifully performed , serious show based on the harrowing testimonies of people who testified at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa following apartheid - told from the perspective of the translators / interpreters. Leading lady - superb.
Saturday - 4th August - Jimmy Tingle's American Dream - a fast hour of comedy, politics and stories from this theatre owner on The American Dream - with Questions and Answers from the audience at the end.
That is it for now - next thing I am off to is the Fringe parade in the lightly dreich weather of this afternoon, starting at 2.30pm, 3000 performers and 175000 approx spectators - another great day in Edinburgh.
All comments gratefully received.
It is a long time since I have posted on here but I thought that I must do something asap - Just over the last few days the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has started and I have been doing very well getting to shows (for me at least).
Wednesday 1st August - went with Dad to the Assembly Gala Press Launch - essentially 2 hours of non stop excellence from a variety of acts all of whom are performing somewhere within the Assembly group of venues.
Highlight - edge of the seat stuff was for me "Traces - The 7 fingers" - astounding, brilliant, the best show I can remember seeing for ever etc etc - more later - I shall try not to run out of superlatives - but I honestly did like it.
Friday 3rd August - a busy day, after work straight to Traces then a beer then to Khalil Ashanti - a true story with all the characters played by Khalil - very good. Meet Ping and Richard for beer and then walk upto the other Assembly venue at the top of the Mound for Havana Rumba! who had also been on at the press launch.
Three good shows and beer - what an excellent day basically.
Traces - A world Champion circus / physical theatre / music act from Quebec, Canada who did this absolutely astoundingly good and enteratining show. Consisting of 5 members it is basically acrobatics , but that doesnt do enough justice to the whole piece - it is music, show, dance, everything ... I am sorry my word skills are not upto the job!! - Their website is here http://www.7fingers.com or www.7doights.com
I shall now give a few words to try and evoke memories for myself - regarding this show and clues to some of the vignettes within the show:- hoops, chair(s), poles, big hoop, chalk line, grand piano, music, skill, jump, hurdle, wonder, awe, incredible, edge of seat, sweaty, amazing, superb, beautiful, poignant, powerful, ....
Summarises as - if you have to choose one show from all that are on in Edinburgh throughout the festival then I recommend you see this one.
(I have no links with the group so this is not advertising hype).
There are some videos around like on this page by some of the other members of the group winning the world circus prize.
But better is this Youtube piece which is much more eloquent - also the great comments all apply for my thoughts on this show.
And this one also on Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hgxhPlYJw0
Go see them, sell your brothers and sisters to get a ticket etc etc.
Ok I shall write about the other shows a little more perfunctorily :-
Khalil Ashanti - multiple characters slipped into very quickly, expressively and humourously.
Havana Rumba! - makes me want to visit Cuba. Vibrant music, people and well the costumes!
Saturday 4th August - Truth in Translation - Oh gosh - a very powerful, well crafted, beautifully performed , serious show based on the harrowing testimonies of people who testified at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa following apartheid - told from the perspective of the translators / interpreters. Leading lady - superb.
Saturday - 4th August - Jimmy Tingle's American Dream - a fast hour of comedy, politics and stories from this theatre owner on The American Dream - with Questions and Answers from the audience at the end.
That is it for now - next thing I am off to is the Fringe parade in the lightly dreich weather of this afternoon, starting at 2.30pm, 3000 performers and 175000 approx spectators - another great day in Edinburgh.
All comments gratefully received.
posted by Bob Veitch at
10:59 AM
