On The Edge: Alma Tavern

Wednesday 11th February 2009

This is a Crackerjack review of On The Edge. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.

Crackerjack rating: 7 / 10.

Four new plays in one hour. Splendid idea? Or just theatrical espresso?

This second Writing in The Margins series of short works comes  with the laudable aim of showcasing the best new playwrights around.

With barely 15 minutes of fame apiece for us to love them in, each bite-sized piece of theatre has barrowloads of deft writing, some absolutely lovely comic acting and a hit of thought-provoking conundrums.

The plays, a collaboration between Theatre West and Stepping Out Theatre, are so palpably new they almost have the tags still attached.

Chock-full of bright ideas, a tight group of actors and a slick series of sets manage to punch far above their weight.

A quartet of heartfelt and heartrending conundrums, with the common theme of people in mental anguish, the odd ropey line and dodgy character narrative just about succeeds, nonetheless, in making broad brush strokes believable.

It’s not so much depth of character as width – Dr Pringles, anyone? – but it works. And writer Crysse Morrison, in Your Time Starts Now, should be given a medal for describing the Greek dessert baklava as “a hamster drowning in honey”.

Suicide, comas and criminally negligent doctors mightn’t be staple comic diets, but On The Edge – the evening’s title –  manages to amuse and provoke in equal measure. The voracious appetite among Bristolians for good new playwrights continues to be well fed.

Catch these while you can until February 19.

Sophie Lomax

This is a Crackerjack review of On The Edge. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.