Archive for category Gryphon Venues
Hitler! The Musical
Posted by Martin in Brett Herriot, Gryphon Venues, Hitler! The Musical on August 17, 2011
MUSICALS*** Hitler! The Musical
Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel
Controversy is something which the fringe is renowned for and often provides a home for people to share productions which are either accepted or rejected by the audience. A musical based on Adolf Hitler succeeds in being accepted.
The idea of this musical is to basically parody well established musicals and give us a brief insight into Adolf’s early life and the war years using very black humour. Musicals such as “Wicked”, “Les Miserable” and “Sound of Music” are heavily stylised by an ensemble company of twelve women and one man, bravely played by Benjamin Mahns-Mardy who is somewhat of an expert on putting on bras and skirts very quickly.
The show is very slick in direction and pace and turns things on their heads when the lighting technician is pulled from the LX box to give us a song on the power of Adolf’s facial hair. Where I felt the production fails is that it becomes very much the same number being repeated in the same style – which while funny to begin with does become a bit dry and boring and you wish for so much more. There is after all only so much one person can watch of an actor being whacked by an inflatable hammer.
It seems judging by the rest of Gryphons program that there presenting a range of plays and musicals which fit into the Controversial category and the sold out audience in attendance proves that strategy is working. If you’re around the West End of town this is one show worth catching in the passing.
Uglies do Edinburgh
Posted by Martin in Gryphon Venues, Rex de Vil, Uglies Do Edinburgh on August 12, 2011
THEATRE
**
Uglies do Edinburgh
Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel
After starring together in a pantomime production of Cinderella last year, actors David Kent and Dereck Walker decided to continue their roles as the ‘Ugly Sisters’ in this two –man production based at the Point Hotel. In true pantomime style there are songs, costume changes and plenty of ‘ooh-er’ moments however unlike a successful pantomime production, they fail to hit the mark.
Following the journey of uglies Annie and Fannie in their quest for a handsome prince, there is no denying the show briefly invoked a warming nostalgia, memories of being dragged on stage by Dame Christopher Biggins and the scramble for sweets thrown from the stage. Despite this, the show grows quickly grows wearisome as a succession of predictable jokes and unpolished songs fail to keep the surprisingly adult heavy audience amused, something every pantomime-style production cannot ignore. The select number of children in the audience did however seem engaged leading me to believe that with focus and development the show could do well, and that Kent and Walker will continue to succeed as pantomime regulars or perhaps even writers.
Its standard but sweet, however with plenty of child friendly shows at the Fringe one suggests hunting down something that not only your child will surely enjoy but you will be able to endure as well. Christmas may have come early, but someone’s burnt the traditional turkey.
