Anna Burnside reviews a production with ‘much to appreciate’.
Misery memoirs, disability, the pains of parenting and music all abound in Edinburgh in August, yet indie-folk duo The Bengsons manage to throw these ingredients together and come up with something new.
This married couple, who now live in Queens, specialise in telling personal stories via slides, models, sonic loops and delicious harmonies. Ohio is Shaun’s origin story: a pastor’s son with congenital degenerative hearing loss who moves to the suburbs and has an all-American horrible childhood.
One of the most moving moments of the show is a tribute to Mrs Wean, the music teacher who showed the awkward young Shaun his potential.
There’s a science bit about tinnitus which is certainly educational but stretches the definition of entertainment.
Ohio has much to appreciate. Abigail is a wonderfully warm and welcoming presence, and her humour and charisma tempers Shaun’s more earnest contributions which can edge towards self pity.
More of Abigail’s songs about worms followed by a cheering Google search of musicians with hearing impairments would go a long way to rebalancing this show.
Ohio performs at the Assembly Roxy (Upstairs) at 15:00 until August 24, 2025 (no performances on the 11th or 18th).
Photo by Mihaela Bodlovic.
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