'In this way I shall preserve many things that would otherwise be lost in oblivion. I shall find daily employment for myself, which will save me from indolence and help to keep off the spleen, and I shall lay up a store of entertainment for my after life.'

For James Boswell posts please follow the labels on the right.

This blog mainly contains reviews from the Edinburgh Festivals from 2008 to 2010 which I wrote for the Edinburgh Festivals Magazine. These reviews cover everything from comedy to contemporary dance; children's theatre to Handel.


Sunday, 23 October 2011

The Event Review

The Event

More than another mere event, this is The Event. But don’t expect fizzling fireworks, lacy legged dancers, or acrobats. Instead The Event is a monologue told through the third person.  

It’s an initially quick paced and witty performance. We get hints of the performer as merely a vessel for the director’s commands, technicians lighting and writer’s script. Occasionally what appears to be an independent character pokes through – although this too is possibly part of the act.

Past this post-modern performance, the script then indulges in some anti-modern sneering. Twitter, computer games, mobile phones and anything invented after 1800 are all lined up against the wall of Country Philosophising and shot. By a gang of Luddites.

A good performance and an initially interesting idea of using third person to explore personality. Like every monologue, however, it relies on clever writing and interesting ideas. Unfortunately the latter was lacking in some tired ideas about the imminent threats of technology.   

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