Author: Hugh Simpson
Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil
★★★☆☆ Subtly resonant
Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil at the Lyceum is a sensitive exploration of community, family and football that has much to commend it, but stretches itself a little thin.
Waitress
★★★★☆ Big-hearted
The musical Waitress, touring to the Playhouse, is an appealing production that (despite its ostensibly dark subject matter) is resolutely optimistic.
Amadeus
★★★★☆ Impressive
Amadeus from Strawmoddie is a powerful production, showing off the Pianodrome in its new Bruntsfield home to great advantage.
En la Ardiente Oscuridad
★★★★☆ Intriguing
En la Ardiente Oscuridad (In the Burning Darkness), from the Edinburgh University Spanish Society at the Bedlam, is a thoughtful and thought-provoking production featuring noteworthy performances.
Sunny Afternoon
★★★☆☆ Nostalgic
Sunny Afternoon, the musical about the Kinks and featuring their songs, is a crowd-pleasing affair with high musical standards.
PPP: Off The Rails
★★★★☆ Hugely promising
Off The Rails is an auspicious start for the first season at the Assembly Roxy of Òran Mór’s legendary A Play, a Pie and a Pint. The extremely impressive mini-musical is the professional writing debut of Stephanie MacGaraidh, who has also written the songs and is the play’s sole performer.
The Ballad of Johnny and June
★★★☆☆ Heartfelt
The Ballad of Johnny and June at the Festival Theatre is a big-hearted, tuneful musical guaranteed to please country fans.
Daisy Pulls It Off
★★★★☆ Spiffing
Daisy Pulls It Off, from The Grads at Hill Street Theatre, is as frothy as ginger beer and hugely entertaining.
Jack Docherty in The Chief: No Apologies
★★★☆☆ Familiar
The Gilded Balloon’s touring Jack Docherty in The Chief: No Apologies at the Traverse is an enjoyable outing for a character with a considerable following. If the show ends up being a little formulaic, a huge performance makes up for it.
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
★★★☆☆ Solid
The touring production of The Spy Who Came in From the Cold at the Festival Theatre is taut and stylish, but lacking in real excitement.
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