Padded out with crispy blue leaves and floating with boyish paper planes, ‘Forest Boy’ presents a simultaneously earthy and soaringly fantastical production. To a background of Pocahontas-like wonder and gentle woodland sounds from the talented on-stage orchestra, the real-life story of Robin Van Helsen is told: the so-called ‘Forest Boy’ whose incredible tale of outdoor survival and lost identity captured the attention of the world in 2011. Struggling to make sympathetic characters and an authentic forest world within such a brief run-time and limiting space, the principal selling point of ‘Forest Boy’ is the music and movement. Mature, emotive songs performed with great harmonies to simple yet elegant choreography makes ‘Forest Boy’ a worthy musical adventure to pursue this Fringe.

Assembly George Square, 7, 9, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 Aug, 3.20pm.
tw rating 3/5 | [Katharine Wootton]