Lorna Irvine has a blast with Crying Out Loud's production on the Fringe.
Pirates of the Carabina (not to be confused with a certain film franchise) have a show here that is quite something and will refresh the jaded palate of even the most cynical festival goer—full of self-reflexive humour, circus skills and fantastic live music.
Or they will if lighting rigs, wig malfunctions and in-show bickering don't get them first. The nine-strong international cast, plus two musicians who also get in on the act, fly with ironing boards above the audience, barely missing the front row at times, shimmy up poles and do a sensual pas de deux with a large hula hoop yet can't agree on who is the star.
There's some neat character comedy in a rictus-grinning diva who is taken down by her own vaudevillian pratfalls, finally exclaiming in a neurotic monologue 'My IBS is flaring up... I can't do this anymore... I'm 37 you know!'
But the highlights have to be the gorgeously balletic aerial work (with just a soupcon of Burlesque in performer Shaena's cheeky wiggles, vintage frock and frilly knickers) and trapeze work, which is heart-stopping, teasing and utterly precise.
All-singing,
all-dancing, all-encompassing, with a dark undercurrent, Flown’s (****) is
witty and raucous tickle on the old-fashioned family circus show format is a
blast, taking multi-tasking to new and highly unexpected levels.
Crying Out Loud presents Flown is at the Underbelly at Bristo Square until Aug 26 (not 6, 13 or 20) at 1620.
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