★★★★☆ Never drags
There is a great deal going on in Life’s A Drag, from Not Today Satan Theatre and New Celts at theSpace on the Mile on odd dates throughout the Fringe. Too much, perhaps – but the end result is funny, touching and well put together.
★★★★☆ Comedy and pathos
Almost Famous by Andy Moseley, from NoLogo Productions at Surgeons’ Hall for the Fringe’s first fortnight, is a wry piece invested with considerable emotion.
★★★★☆ Evocative
Works and Days, part of the International Festival at the Lyceum for four performances only, is an arresting depiction of human history.
★★★★☆ Finely drawn
The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness, from Moon Rabbit Theatre at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, is a funny and affecting portrait of an everywoman trying to make her way as a nurse through the turmoil of World War II, and still retain her sense of self.
★★★★☆ Mindful
Ringing out the Changes at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral – a mindful meditation of story and sound about how bells have marked personal, national and global histories – reverberates with meaning.
★★★★★ Triumphant
Queer Folks’ Tales at the Scottish Storytelling Centre every Wednesday of the Fringe is a powerful celebration of storytelling and community, as entertaining as it is moving.
★★★☆☆ Winning streak
The Kids Always Win, a gameshow comedy for kids age 5 and over is onto, well, a winner with it’s fail-safe formula, at the Pleasance Courtyard until the end of the Edinburgh school holidays.
★★★★★ Disglair/Brilliant
Edinburgh’s Ailsa Dixon and Welsh storyteller Ffion Philips, together known as the Harebell Tellers, enchant the Scottish Storytelling Centre with a limited, five show run of Aderyn/Bird this Fringe.
★★★★☆ Heart-warming
Calendar Girls at Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre for two weeks is a heart-warming, feel-good comedy, competently staged by Leiththeatre who have been putting on productions for almost eighty years now.