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 Childrens |
Rating Guide None = Unmissable 
= UnwatchablePage number refers to the Fringe programme Five Go To Edinburgh Again - Gordonstoun School. (page 9 ) Drams 
just a wee sip of a soft drink. Venue Stage by Stage at Edinburgh Academy (Venue 70) Address 42 Henderson Row. Reviewer Vivien Devlin Hands up who used to avidly read Enid Blyton`s Famous Five books as a child? J.K. Rowling did and look what those stories inspired her to create. Despite the innocent 1950s setting, with picnics of tomato sandwiches and lashings of ginger beer, Enid Blyton is still widely popular, now spanning three generations of readers. Nigel Williams, head of drama at Gordonstoun School was a fan, as are his young children, which led to the inspiration behind this show for all ages. Five Go To Edinburgh Again is an hilarious and affectionate tribute to - not a send up - the adventures of Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog. Hoorah! This delightful comic story is performed by former pupils of Gordonstoun School out of doors in a garden - the perfect setting for an adventure on the shores of Loch Ness, Scotland. Imagine an old Castle, secret passage, kidnapped scientist, a gang of villains - and the monster, of course. The charm of the script is that it works on every level for every age, silly jokes, chase scenes and a few innuendo comments thrown in to amuse parents. The cast is utterly brilliant, especially Rory Fraser-Mackenzie as Julian, and Fiona Belchamber as tomboy George. The final word must go to a three year old boy sitting on the grass in front of me who had been enthralled throughout. At the end, without prompting he quietly said, Hoorah!. And a double hoorah from me too. © Vivien Devlin, 12 August 2003 - Published on www.EdinburghGuide.com Runs to August 16th, 11.30. Company Gordonstoun School. Company Website www.gordonstoun.org.uk
Hansel and Gretel (page 10). Drams None for kids,
for adults.Venue Underbelly. Address Cowgate/Victoria Street. Reviewer Nathan Dixon. Nothing to fear from a witch, a hammer and a monkey. Although children's theatre, adults need not worry about nodding off. This is a wonderfully atmospheric, well-directed, ebulliently acted and generally deftly scripted production of Stuart Patterson's Hansel and Gretel. The storyline is easy to follow - but not too simple - and manages to approach big themes without patronising, or cloying. It teaches about life, especially good/bad, loyalty/betrayal and love/hate - as all good children's stories do! It perhaps even plants, almost subliminally, lessons against alcoholism and bulimia in the mind! A more prudish director may well have baulked at some of the scenes, but the decision to retain them is the right one. Children are always far more aware and discerning than us fusty old grumblers think. The performances are all excellent - particularly those from Zoe Hawkins, the gorgeous Natasha Ruiz-Farrero, Jennifer Lopez (no, before you ask) Emily Lewis and Soumik Datta as the monkey. Maybe there were a few teething problems with lines here and there, but the exuberance of the actors more than made up for it. The stage is used interestingly, with the four corners becoming a bedroom, an oven, a cage and a house. The kids have to keep their wits about them, as action comes from everywhere. They are given no a chance of boredom - apart from the scene in the woods with the circus performers, which is perhaps a little too drawn out. The play contains a couple of good jokes, in there subtly for the adults and, even if the play were awful, it would be worth sitting through the entire thing for one of the father's absolutely inspired final lines - the one about a hammer. A good way to start the Fringe day - the kids in the audience all loved it, myself included. © Nathan Dixon 7 August 2003 - Published on www.EdinburghGuide.com Runs every two days from 2 August to 16 Company ECLU Encore
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