Grisly Tales From Tumblewater

Grisly Tales From Tumblewater is adapted from a book by the same name originally by Bruno Vincent, and is performed single-handed in the Pleasance Attic by Edward Jaspers.

The show is energetic, physical and totally bonkers. It’s packed full of original songs, including the very entertaining “Picking Your Nose”, performed with Jaspers’ mandolin, and he bounces cheekily between different characters with some nice caricatures.

The story itself is compelling, and has clearly been adapted with the same imagination present in the original book. The narrative involves the audience, with front row interactions raising many laughs, all of which helps to keep the children engaged early on.

But the running time is significantly too long, inevitably losing the attention of some younger audience members around the half way mark. Although the ending is very effective and amusing, many of the kids are a lost cause by this point.

Jaspers works hard and is very endearing, playing the storyteller effectively. However the lack of technical elements, while perhaps viewed as enjoyable simplicity by the adults, loses the interest of the demographic that the piece is aimed at. It’s a sweet and lovely way to spend an afternoon, but it’s nothing particularly special.

– Chris Wheeler