#Review of The Last Bantam performed by Michael Hughes (review by Bookmarks and Stages – Lou) @TheLastBantam @GreensideVenue #WW1 #TheatrePlay #EdFringe #EdFringe25

The Last Bantam
Performed and written by Michael Hughes

review by Bookmarks and Stages – Louise Cannon

Bantam’s, not many people know about these soldiers in WW1. The play is a great opportunity to get to really be immersed into their world as the story, based on truth, of 30,000 short men and their war time experiences unfolds. It’s told, by and large, through the eyes of Patrick Michael Wolfe, a teacher from Dublin about this battalion made of British, Irish, Canadian men.

Written and played by Michael Hughes, who engages, even with no set, just a stage. He paints a vivid picture in his dramatic descriptions as he tries to join the war effort, but is found to be too short and ends up joining the Bantams. There’s a bit of frivolity and even a song, bringing a bit of humour in the beginning before the intensities of real war well and truly breaks out.

He embodies The Last Bantam and brings believability and immense attention to detail, from army type mannerisms, right down to the replica costume, even the watch, which I had the privilege of a close up look at. What’s demonstrated in the play, in a highly watchable manner, is a great understanding of the bantams, the preparation they had to do, right down to the store rooms, the attitudes towards them and how they played more of a vital part than people would know in the first world war. The play brings their experiences to life in an engaging manner from start to finish.

To see this impassioned play, check out details here: The Last Bantam

#Review By Lou of Out of My Head – Alan Watts is Alive and Well… Dead Performed by Jeremy Stockwell @jeremystockwell Directed by Terry Johnson @PleasanceTheatre #EdFringe

Out of My Head – Alan Watts is Alive and Well… Dead
Performed by Jeremy Stockwell
Directed by Terry Johnson

review written by Louise Cannon – Bookmarks and Stages

Review

Prior to seeing this play, I hadn’t heard of Alan Watts, but it intrigued me. The set is interesting, with blankets and cushions and looks rather comfortable and cosy.

There’s a fascinating potted history through time, which also gives a flavour as to who Alan Watts was. I didn’t know who he was before seeing this play, but came away with a good sense of who he was. Themes of spirituality, politics, challenges of travel are weaved into conversation and life observations between both Alan Watts and the actor who’s playing him, Jeremy Stockwell, as himself. It’s a unique play that’s well worth going to see.

A lot is thrown up in this play to contemplate, some of which is wise. It’s a rather powerful play with added themes of the audience being told they are enough and more phrases to that ilk being used.

Out of My Head is quietly deep, contemplative and reflective of life and death and what that last day on earth might look like. There’s also, surprisingly some humour in this as well.

Jeremy Stockwell is engaging, some of which could be impactful in a positive way for some people. He holds his audience’s gaze expertly well, drawing you deeper, both cerebrally and emotionally.

Jeremy Stockwell seems fascinating, whether playing someone else or himself.

Interestingly there is a section where people can ask questions, which were answered with rather enlightening answers, which comes in the form of as though you are talking to Alan Watts.

Synopsis

Join Alan Watts, hippie, philosopher and pioneer of the counterculture, for his last night on Earth. In his Californian hilltop hideaway, Alan contemplates his mortality and his life as a freewheeling guru and spiritual rogue. From his hospital bed, Jeremy Stockwell imagines what might have been if he had met his hero. What results is a wild ride through an eccentric landscape of love, sex, vodka and mortality. Written and performed by Jeremy Stockwell, directed by Terry Johnson.

#Interview By Lou with Alex Prescot about comedy show, Cosy @alexpcomedy #EdFringe #Underbelly @followthecow #Cosy

Interview with Alex Prescot
By Louise Cannon – Bookmarks and Stages

Welcome Alex Prescot to Bookmarks and Stages to talk about your new comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Alex Prescot: Cosy, which runs until 25th Aug at 11:45am to 12:45pm.

Alex Prescot has created a “tailor-made show for each audience.” He also says you can “expect a warm and fuzzy blend of joyful musical comedy and quick-witted improvisation.“

Here we talk about becoming a comedian, the show, Cosy, improvisational comedy and more…
Some people may know Alex Prescot around the Fringe already from the sell-out show, A Jaffa Cake Musical.

Who or what inspired you to become a comedian?

When I was younger, I wanted to be an actor since doing loads of youth theatre and school plays (classic). Then I went to university and decided I wanted to be not just an actor, but a director and writer too (having studied…French and Spanish). After uni, I moved to London and started to do double act comedy with my mate Nick (another wannabe actor, big ick) until we broke up cause he moved to Australia, I had to go solo and write a debut musical comedy hour about…my double act partner leaving me for Australia. 

Improv is, like all comedy, a skill. What attracted you to improvisation in-particular and how did you learn to do this and hone your craft enough to be shortlisted and finalist in comedy awards?

I started doing improvised musicals at uni because all the kids I thought were cool from the musical theatre society were doing it (spoiler: they were not “cool” as the word is widely understood).

After graduating, I co-founded ‘The Bean Spillers’, a small cast improvised musical inspired by audience gossip, but occasionally started cheating on that show with solo musical improv.

As for learning to do it, I really believe it’s hours on the treadmill and watching/listening to your performances back to try and get better. There are also general things I believe makes better crowd work improv: being genuinely interested in the audience, making them the heroes (unless they’re proper twats), and recognising when something is ‘shiny’ and grabbing onto it immediately.

There’s a lot of improv at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. What sets your show, COSY, apart from the rest? 

There’s a fair bit of improv in my show but it also tells the story of my double act break-up and so I’d like to hope it has real heart at its core (something I’ve worked on extensively with my director, the brilliant Ben Target). So hopefully it is different from purely skill-based improv shows (which are great!) and offers something a bit more personal too.

But if you’re an improv nerd and looking for an improv-focused answer, what sets it apart is I am both improvising piano and singing at the same time.

What is the cosiest part of your show? 

The cushions! I have like 20 as part of the set and I give them out to audience members throughout as rewards for good behaviour.

Why did you choose the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for your show and what happens next? 

I am also in ‘A Jaffa Cake Musical’ which had a really great sell-out run last year so has returned this year (and, miraculously, is selling out again!). As I knew this show was coming back, for me it was a no-brainer to debut this year, as the support of a successful musical and my fantastic cast mates from that show has made my Fringe immeasurably better.

As for what’s next, I would love to do a UK tour of this show and maybe also take it further afield too…watch this space!

Where can people follow you on social media?

I’m on everything @alexpcomedy and regularly post clips of the best audience interactions – come along and join the fun!

Here’s the Edinburgh Fringe link so you can be cosily entertained: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/alex-prescot-cosy

#Review by Bookmarks and Stages by Lou of The UnderNeath @Cvenues #EdFringe #TheUnderNeath

The UnderNeath
By The Rainbow Room Productions

review written by Bookmarks and Stages -Louise Cannon

What lies in the UnderNeath and what is it? This play gives the perfect chance to find out, in what is an intriguing piece of new writing, which is thought-provoking and makes you ask similar questions as to what the people in-front of you are asked and query themselves.

There’s a certain air of Life on Mars, in that everyone may not be alive and no one, except Neath, knows what’s going on. There are hidden secrets and confessions to be made in what is a mysterious holding room.

The play carries an interesting concept of having one person, Neath, who is 1000’s of years old and is the only one who knows what’s going on. The others are baffled and some, to begin with, don’t remember what happened. The play toys with the characters psychologically as they dig deep for their back stories and into what their deepest regret is to see if they can be released or not from the mysterious place they find themselves in. It’s strength was how each character dealt with their predicament. That’s where the real psychological impact lies, rather than totally in their stories alone. This is fascinating, but I felt a little more of the power of the human condition vibe.
Intriguingly, the room itself, almost becomes a strong, powerful character as you wait to see what happens next and what hold it has on its captives.

It is thought-provoking and well acted in the formation of the actors who give a convincing performance whilst telling their stories and being baffled by what’s happening to them.

You can find out more here, if you dare to go to The UnderNeath

#Review of Wodehouse In Wonderland performed by @RobertDaws at Studio 3, George Square Gardens 5 stars @ARedinburgh #EdFringe #EdinburghFringeFestival #Wodehouse #WodehouseInWonderland

Wodehouse in Wonderland
Performed by Robert Daws
Written by William Humble

Review written by Bookmarks and Stages – Louise Cannon

Robert Daws gives a spiffingly outstanding performance as he invites audiences into the charmingly witty, poignant world of P.G. Wodehouse. Every word, every movement is done with the upmost conviction and draws you in further into his world. He engages the entire audience in a charismatic performance about P.G. Wodehouse’s life.

In the small spaces between audience laughter at the well-timed humour, of which there is lots of, and silence at the more serious, emotional parts, the play is that captivating, you would be able to hear a pin drop. There aren’t many plays you can say that about.

The insufferable biographer who wants to interview and write about his life, gives some insight into how Plummy addressed such people, which brought plenty of humour amongst the ire.
Tenderness, however is shown when it comes to family life, that’s not saccharine, but nonetheless would warm anyone’s heart.
Robert Daws truly embodies Wodehouse’s characteristics and demeanour when bringing him to life, through the late William Humble’s compelling script.

Whether it’s the whimsical, idyllic afternoons, providing great warmth in a type of escapism, to the contrast of some of the poignancy and darkness during the war and what happened later, all is pitch perfect and nuanced through spoken acting and bursts of song throughout.
We mostly hear Robert Daws’ speaking voice in anything he performs in, but it turns out he also has very strong, very pleasant singing voice, which hits all the notes with richness and depth.

Whether you know P.G. Wodehouse or not, there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy and see the poignancy, the humour and the elements of wisdom, especially some wise, life affirming words near the end, which keeps this charming play relevant for today.

Whether you need a “pick me up” or having a good day, this show will put a spring in your step by the time it ends.

So you don’t miss this fascinating play, check out further details and how you can get your hands on tickets here: Wodehouse In Wonderland Tickets

#Review of Anti “Yogi” by Bookmarks and Stages by Lou Greenside – Jade Venue #GreensideVenues #EdFringe #Play #Theatre #Yoga #Dance

The Anti “Yogi”

Review by Bookmarks and Stage – Louise Cannon

Think you know Yoga? Think some nice stretches, a bit of deep breathing and creating some shapes, buying a mat and buying into the sports gear is Yoga? Anti Yogi will have you thinking again and enlighten your current thinking and experiences and shows Bhandari’s “Jainist” Indian/American identity and what Yoga truly is.

The Anti “Yogi” is a fascinating show that shows the contrast between the multimillion pound industry the West has created and what it really is in India. The comparison is stark and is illustrated very well through play, yoga, dance.

The performance truly gets across the important points and demonstrated all that I was expecting in a fascinating manner.

My one quibble, is, as much as the majority of the play is done standing up, which works well because everyone can see this, but, the Yoga elements are a bit more challenging to view from the second and third rows. In saying that, it’s an important play depicting that India and the westernised big money industry are at odds with each other. They sit at complete polar opposites, with its original meaning being an entire way of life, focusing on the every part of living and it being more a business with elements that the west have cherry-picked from the practice.

The Anti “Yogi” is for those who practice Yoga and those who do not. There’s plenty to be gained for everyone.

Find out more info about this enlightening play here: The Anti “Yogi”