[An Enemy of the Circle]

Well here's another Edinburgh hottie, liked/loved by the press but attracting some serious minority dissent in the EdFringe reviews (paying punters).

And the verdict...well I'm siding with he dissenters...

New writing at it's worst - mainly because of the characters chosen by the author to get accross his message. Hell, it's a play about 7/7 - the day London was granted the Olympics and the tube bombings occurred - yet you get a sense of neither of those events.

Instead the cast of 8 play 8 characters who basically act out a talking heads piece, only 4 of them ever interacting. The play is introduced with a teenage schoolboy who basically impersonates Frank Spencer (without the Beret...or Betty). There are 7 tv's on the set floor for no good reason, well actually they're the only meaningful contribution to the set!

It's a pity because all 8 act the parts really well - if only they'd had something worthy of their talents.

There's a message somewhere in all of this, but it takes centre stage to any dramatic content/entertainment value.

Testing the Echo (which was an average 3/5) did this a million times better last year, albeit with a more limited (restricted) ambition.

A seriously dissapointing (interval-ess!) 95 mins

[An Enemy of the Circle]

Aaah yes, the nudity...a couple of balloons would've improved the entertainment factor!

As mentioned, the cast were very good, with lesser mortals this would have been truly woeful.

That said, a number of the audience loved it and applauded heartily when the lights went up, so it does has appeal, but it's a classic case of 'worthy' theatre being well regarded solely on those grounds.

The grumpy old woman was my fav character; her bbq-d chicken search was touching. The old leach trying to get off with his student wouldn't have made the cutting room floor of The Graduate, and as for the brother & sister enjoying 'sibling' affections...that's been going on in Buxton for years!!

[David]

I completely agree! It was basically a radio play. Theatre should work at the visual level too; besides man taking his clothes off for no very clear reason (other than to attract ticket sales, I'd cynically suggest) and a couple dancing, there was nothing to watch.

Yes- I thought it was an interesting piece, and wonderfully performed, but you're right, it's a radio play.