Archive for category Meadows Theatre Big Top
The Circus of the Orient
Posted by Martin in Brett Herriot, Circus of the Orient, Meadows Theatre Big Top on August 10, 2011
HEATRE**
The Circus of the Orient
Meadows Big Top
The Circus of the orient comes to Edinburgh for a fringe run sharing its home with the Ladyboys of Bangkok. Unfortunately the whole production comes off as both space filler and an exercise in making money quickly.
The first major obstacle to the show is the very fact it shares a home with Robert Gandey’s more successful Ladyboys which is presented in a Cabaret style setting. Presenting circus in the same layout doesn’t work especially as the meadows big top is so big. Seating your audience at tables with chairs around them takes away the atmosphere. Families with young children had the hardest task as children simply couldn’t see the action in the make shift circus ring.
The actual content of the production isn’t too bad to be fair but it’s nothing that isn’t being presented in other physical theatre productions throughout the fringe. The one standout moment that took the show from a one star affair is the inclusion of two of the world famous Shoalin Wu Shu Warriors who appear by permission of the Abbott of the Shaolin Temple. Their ten minute section is breath taking to watch as they reach beyond the pain barriers to showcase why this ancient temple has reshaped the popular view of ninja style presentations.
The production is woefully below the quality deserved of the ticket price and with additional costs of flashing lights, ice creams and candy floss and what is a sheer money making ploy of having a photo taken with cartoon characters Kung Fu Panda, SpongeBob square pants and peppa pig that have nothing to do with show what so ever.
Unless you’re a diehard fan of the Shoalin Wu Shu Warriors this is one production to miss.
Ladyboys of Bangkok
Posted by Martin in Brett Herriot, Lady Boys of Bangkok, Meadows Theatre Big Top on August 6, 2011
CABARET**** Ladyboys of Bangkok
Meadows Theatre Big Top
The fringe stalwarts return to there festival home on the meadows with a brand new production from director Robert Gandey titled Fur Coats and French Knickers.
Its well over a decade since the Ladyboys debuted on the fringe and each year the show tries to change itself. As is the usual the first five minutes have the audience disbelieving that what they are actually seeing is indeed a group of males performing as females.
What follows is nearly two hours of sparkles, colour and comedy as we parade through the hits of Rhianna, Taio Cruz, Shakira, and Katy Perry and for me far too many numbers by Lady Gaga. With lots of audience participation and comedy digs at the likes of Jordan and Peter Andre. This all leads to an over the top finale of New York New York in a Liza Minnelli explosion of glitter, feathers and sequins that has to be been seen to be believed. Concluding the show is a special Scottish Encore which had the audience in the massive Pavilion on their feet to the end.
The Ladyboys have become such stalwarts as it’s so obvious they enjoy what they do on stage and this alone will keep the massive cross section of an audience returning to the pavilion year on year. This for many people is a must see production of the festival diary and I can see why it is.
