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 Childrens |
Rating Guide None = Unmissable 
= UnwatchablePage number refers to the Fringe programme The Stories Of All Stories. (Page 13) Drams Venue The Story-Pot (Venue 297) Address Middle Meadow Walk. Reviewer Thelma Good. Larry a skirted male pig greets us outside the domed Story-Pot, it's a geodesic dome with material over it so it very like a yurt. He's looking for Harry the Tree Boy, once we've found him, I'm not going to tell you where we all go into the tented structure and sit on the carpet, there's a few chairs for the luck or the stiff. Once the story gets under way we follow children Lucy and Orland on their journey to save their village's story telling tree. It's dying, it's only got a few leaves left and a monotouous toned Griffin tells them where to seek a remedy. On their way they finding villages where there's fear, war and excessive commericialism and are helped by the characters of a friendly fox and Harry and hindered by others. The set's a bit ropy, (think Blue Peter projects before you gave up at 8) and so is some but not all of the acting. The director and his co-writer have crammed too many devices and diversions into the story so it becomes a frentic muddle not helped by some of the casts' characterisations though Varun Chadha and Catrin Evans do well as Orlando and Lucy. But as it's free, the children generally stayed with the action when I saw and the money collected goes to a tree charity, it's doing some things right. © Thelma Good 8 August 2003 - Published on www.EdinburghGuide.com Runs to 10 August at 15:00 each day, and also 8pm on 8 & 10 August. Company –A Pack of Trews Theatre Company.
The White Slipper (Page 13) Drams 
just a wee sip of a soft drink.Venue Bedlam Theatre (Venue 49) Address 11b Bristo Place Reviewer Fiona O'Hanlon  Quick!
Call the witch doctor…the King has lost his magical white slipper! But alas the
witch doctor has returned to a 'far and distant' land and is nowhere to be found.
Writhing in agony without his slipper to soothe his poisoned foot, the King offers
Princess Diamontina's hand in marriage to any man who can cure him. And the story
continues...The Oxford University Dramatic Society entice us into this magical fantasy world. Although the storyline is initially slow, the vibrant costumes and enthusiastic acting of the seven strong cast soon draw the audience into the piece. Particularly strong is the hunting scene in which the cast create a real sense of riding horses through the forest using only movement and vocal noises. The White Slipper appeals to children and adults alike - the children are able to follow the plot at its most basic level, the script is also permeated with allusions. Particularly memorable is the instance in which kind Princess Diamontina, like Marie Antoinette, pities the townspeople and wishes they could all eat cake. Props, though few, are innovatively used, as the small chair and silver cloth are incorporated into almost every scene. The silver sheet itself is transformed seventeen times in the performance and is used to represent everything from a bedsheet to the sea. Toby Chapman and Nick Pigott's unforgettable theme tune adds to the magic of the piece. An enchanting work which addresses real issues of class and arranged marriages, The White Slipper is well worth a visit... for Gilguerillo's catchy theme tune alone. © Fiona O'Hanlon 15th August 2003 - Published on www.EdinburghGuide.com Runs to 23rd August, daily at 17.05. Company – Angel Sharp
Witches, Riches and Wedding Cake (Page 13) Drams None! Venue Komedia Roman Eagle Lodge (Venue 21 ) Address 2 Johnston Terrace Reviewer Fiona O'Hanlon We are standing. Running on the spot away from the evil witch Babyaga, we are encouraged to physically re-enact excerpts from the previous folktale. The kids love it. The adults are self-conscious. It is at this point that the older members of the audience appreciate the skill of the nine-strong cast who use only voice and movement to successfully represent everything from sea monsters to spinning wheels. Witches, Riches and Wedding Cake is a set of four entertaining and educational folktales from Ireland, Russia, Native America and Scotland. In them we meet memorable characters such as Simon the sailor, Babyaga the witch, 'boy' and 'girl' and the ogre who is scared of noise! The piece is successful as Joseph Hart's script can be interpreted on many levels. Basic plots, clear characterisation and pantomime humour make the tales accessible to the younger members of the audience, yet the work is also characterised by clever word play and permeated with classical and biblical allusions. The actors are energetic, and their enthusiasm does not wane despite the demands of performing such a physical piece. Costumes are used effectively: when cast members represent inanimate objects they wear a colourful tracksuit, whilst when they adopt a character role their costumes are adorned with additional pieces. Atmosphere is created by the musical accompaniment: a combination of keyboard, small percussion instruments and the various songs, chants and claps of the cast. An excellent production from a former Fringe First winning company – go…but remember to take your imagination! © Fiona O'Hanlon 9th August 2003 - Published on www.EdinburghGuide.com Runs to 24th August, at 11.45, not 11th or 18th. Company Shoestring Players.
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