Ashling Findlay-Carroll reviews 'a great night out' and a production that's 'equal parts shocking and straightforward'.
Briefs ****
Think Chippendales, crossed with RuPaul, crossed with Cirque Du Soleil: a 65-minute all-male cabaret that will make you whoop, scream and squirm in equal measure. Not one for the fainthearted, the Brief boys – dressed in increasingly more brief outfits – are nothing if not energetic, and the show thrusts itself into your face (repeatedly) and hits you square between the eyes with its wonderfully camp extravaganza.
What makes this show stand out from the many other cabaret nights at the Fringe is that there is some substance behind the sequins: the performers have excellent circus skills and the choreography is on point throughout. They dance, lip sync, leap, lift, dive and fly their way through this risqué evening, and the result is a great night out!
The Road to Huntsville ****
Stephanie Ridings is an excellent storyteller. Her charismatic delivery is compelling and vital in pulling us into her world, which all too quickly becomes entangled with the world of Texas death row. Her informal delivery makes her likable and her simple honesty is so engaging that you cannot help but empathise with her dilemmas and decisions.
The simple set is used to great effect, and the images of her research help to construct a gripping story as we draw parallels between the fledgling romance with a death row prisoner and Ridings’ own failing relationship.
Equal parts shocking and straightforward, this carefully crafted and beautifully told story makes you both sympathise with the decisions made and question what you might do in the circumstances.
Briefs is part of the Assembly programme and Road is part of Summerhall’s programme. Check websites for further information.
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