Edinburgh Fringe 2010: Review – It Is Rocket Science, Helen Keen, Gilded Balloon

There is something I wil confess and few people know and that is I have a little bit of an obsession with space and the moon, in fact I read two books on the subject, so when I got an email about the possibility of coming to review Helen Keen’s show I jumped at it. This is the last leg of the Fringe yet the passion and drive us still there and Helen’s show was a delight, funny and intelligent ‘It Is Rocket Science’ is a marvel to watch.

One of the shows highlights was the shadow puppets that Miriam helped out with which was original and so funny I don’t think I have seen anything quiet like it, it was so touching and gentle the huge Monday crowd loved every minute of it. There was a near sellout crowd and at 1h 15 on a Monday morning is no easy feat, and the audience got quickly into the spirit of it. Topics ranged from her childhood, family, and garage flat back in Yorkshire, to the history of rocket development and the men (and one woman) behind it.

Helen’s material is smart, well written, researched, and delivered with real skill, her energy was imposible to keep up with for a Monday on the last week of the Fringe, yet she still gave it her all. The shows main success comes from the fact that Helen really does have a genuine passion for rockets and space that comes through so well. Helen is careful to also talk about the darker aspect of rocket development and the scramble by the US and UK for the Nazi rocket scientists. This is a bloody and sad part of the West history and operation paperclip is a stain that will remain with us for a long time.

‘This show was of such a high standard I would be hard pushed to find a show I have been as fully engaged with and liked as much as this one. You come to the fringe to get entertained and there are hundreds and thousands of shows out there to pick from, what Helen Keen does is become your space obsessed, stamp collecting best friend, she’s honest, smart and funny. A 1st class performance.’