Looking through the fringe brochure gets harder every year. So many (some might say too many) choices means that it is almost impossible to decide what to see.
Occasionally though even a general blurb in the listings creates a resonance and you have a gut feeling that this is a show worth investing your time and money in. This is how we ended up at Zoo Roxy on our last afternoon following a delightful and unexpected walk around Arthur's Seat in glorious sunshine beforehand.
After joining a surprisingly long queue we entered the venue to hear Rhys Lewis' s dulcit singing voice whilst accompanying himself on guitar. Immediately we meet Jamie Blake struggling to speak on the phone. My first thoughts were that like "Rose" (see yesterday's review) we were watching a man with a stroke but soon I realised it was just the emotions of a dumped lover begging for another chance.
In flashback, we then see our hero meeting the love of his life, Jade, and the events which lead us to the conclusion. Along the way we meet their friends who experience the highs and lows you would expect from free and single twenty-somethings just having fun. It sounds fairly generic theatrical fare but succeeds because the writing and acting is real and believable.
Like a good referee, the control of director Ashley Scott-Layton (also the writer) is not noticed, as although there are a lot of scenes, often quite complicated, they all allow the story to flow naturally.
The large cast are all exemplary but I must single out Rupert Lazarus in the title role. On stage for virtually the whole show you must believe and care about him to get involved in the story. It is a far from easy role as he has to start at a highly emotional state, regress to a level of innocence and naivety and work himself back up into this dramatic ending.
If this sounds heavy and dramatic you couldn't be more wrong. All along the way it is funny with bursts of musical energy, dancing and beat-boxing that are truly life-affirming. Credit must also go to Rhys Lewis who remained on-stage throughout the show, coming alive to deliver his own songs as well as creating a great party atmosphere with cheesy disco favourites.
For anyone suffering Fringe-lag this is the perfect pick-me-up. I can also recommend getting hold of Rhys Lewis's mini-CD as these songs grow on me with each listen.
A company to be enjoyed not just this festival, but hopefully for plenty more to come.
Highly recommended.
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