ED2012 3/5 Reviews ED2012 Theatre Reviews

Sparkleshark (Edinburgh People’s Theatre)

By | Published on Friday 31 August 2012

Philip Ridley’s play, about the inspiring power of storytelling, sounds like an ideal project for a community theatre to tackle. It’s possibly less suitable for a company of widely mixed ages, since all the characters are meant to be fourteen. It’s to Edinburgh People’s Theatre’s credit, then, that this production is successful, despite some seriously suspect casting. It’s not surprising that the younger performers stand out, with Gary Cain especially convincing as swaggering schoolyard bully Russell, but everyone is put to good use thanks to smooth direction and fine comic interplay. Suitably, the energy builds as the plot develops, and as the kid’s game takes on a life of its own, the audience is drawn in along with the characters.

St Peters, 21-25 Aug, times vary.
tw rating 3/5| [Dave Fargnoli]



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