One of the best things we have discovered over the course of the past month in Edinburgh is that once you start doing reviews and interviews more shows start to send you information about their productions, shows, and events. You can not always make it to everyone so when you do make the time to go and see one of these ‘unplanned’ shows you expect great things. So when I was told about Reclaim Productions ‘That Moment’ I was expecting great things.

This one woman show is a triumph of the highest order, no one woman show is as insane, odd, and so blisteringly performed by an actress with a real gift she left me speechless.

Jenny Harrold is reprising her role (Alicia) after ‘That Moment’ enjoyed a sell out run in London and you only have to see five minutes of this hour long show to get why. Harrold gives a really passionate and funny performance that you will follow from the first word she says. Alicia is one of those many players who are waiting to get their big break, she has a bad agent and has managed to land herself a role as a dog sitter.

Jenny is manic on stage giving her character a realness you couldn’t imagine. This is a flawless performance and her delivery is so skilled and tight you wil slowly find yourself falling in love with her. As the play unfolds a multitude of characters are introduced, Simon her dogs owner and famous theatre director, Penny her agent, Ben her ‘friend with benefits’, Peter another famous director, Sophie and Steve…as well as Typhus. How Jenny brings all these to life is a stunning achievement in itself. She keeps Alicia positive throughout yet there are some moments where you really do feel for this character but the humour warms you and you remain as positive as Alicia.

Nothing can prepare you for this show. Dougie Blaxland has written a well observed play and you get the sense that any actor worth their salt seeing this would understand totally what Alicia is going through, and for him to have written such a wonderful female character is an amazing achievement. Jenny is funny and her timing perfect, there was one little slip when she went to pick up the phone and as she did it kept ringing but her look to the audience and gentle shrug of her shoulders was priceless.

‘There are over 2000 shows at the fringe and we have seen some great ones, Fitzrovia Radio Hour, Sammy J being some of our favourites, hands down ‘That Moment’ is in another stratosphere completely. Original with its concept writing and performed with such ability you will find yourself leaning forward in owe at such a gifted actress. There is just over a week to go before we say goodbye to Edinburgh Fringe for another year…don’t leave this city without seeing this show!’

Reclaim Productions have another show at the Fringe called ‘Bud Take The Wheel I Feel A Song Coming On’ at Underbelly (venue 61) at 16.35pm.

This came from nowhere and I was a little unsure before hand is this was going to be as good as it was hyped up to be. Basically a group travel round the UK putting on nights in a variety of great cities, their show is a mixture of standup and funny videos from all over the world. The first video about Sony was funny and the audience liked it (overly applauding the videos was a little tiresome), but ultimately it worked.

*Note this review is pending a re-edit

The videos came and went pretty fast so I don’t know the name of the videos that they used, but they have said they will email me the names later on. Two of the best videos was a cartoon of a dog in a bar – this was awesome – and a guy who tries to hear his own testicles – again this was inspired watching!

Pappy – Matthew, Tom & Ben

These guys where legends and, well, I could have enjoyed a whole hour of them. Their humour might on the surface seem a little immature but when you peal it back you can see a great deal of thought has gone into it. The first video they showed us (and the credits have BBC as copyright) was a little random but was funny. Their video’s are a sort of hidden camera style show with well developed ideas.

But it wasn’t the videos that got the crowd going nuts it was Tom and Matthew’s song about relationships and why men are bad at them. Tom, we where told, had drank a whole bottle of wine and was a little ‘on it’ tonight. It didn’t matter he must have said ‘ladies in the house’ about 20 times and each time getting a bigger and bigger laugh as Matthew had his back to the audience waiting for his cue. Tom then started putting on an woman’s voice and asked ‘her’ friend Tiffany what’s the deal with guys. Midway through the bit (well off the point of the song) he started to mix Tiffany with Nelson Mandela, what happened next was, either by accident or plan, was amazing. The ‘ok forget about Reuben Island…no don’t forget it, remember it, but forget it right now but may be think about it when your walking home tonight…’ was an inspired piece of adlib I have ever seen.

I only mention this because from the looks of Matthew and Ben this was not planned and this was seriously funny! The three worked well together and was a genuine highlight of the show.

The video’s could get a little hit and miss over time with some being perfect and others being simply average. They seem to pull them from all over the place which can give a good balance. The night was a lot funnier than I had anticipated and the videos slowly grew to being a really great introduction to this new night at the Fringe, they are certain to have got quite a few of the people last night ready for more!

The video of Terry Wogan on the Orient Express is insane, this alone was worth the price of the ticket!

There is a wonderful amount of music groups at this years Fringe with a cappella being something of a staple. I got to see two great a cappella groups from Oxford University, all female group In the Pink and The Oxford Gargoyles both had huge audience members and both did something quiet outstanding. The latter of the groups informed their audience of a four piece jazz/blues band called The Harmonics made up of former members of The Oxford Gargoyles. All I can I am grateful they did!

Coming onto stage in their matching suits the guys accepted the warm applause kindly and very quickly got started with Route 66. Their music was a relief and their sound was so good you would be hard pressed to think they of a better place to be than their right then. Though the guys have been up to the fringe with other groups this was their first solo show and the band has only been going for the past six months. After their first song you could be forgive if you shouted out ‘dirty liars’ as there is a seamlessness to their performance which is skilled and professional.

Woody tells us midway through their set that they have each chosen three songs and that all the arrangements had been done by themselves and all this in six months! The crowd loved it with each song getting a rapturous applause and they certainly gave a memorable show. Their harmonies, as is to be expected, where amazing and their music remained balanced, never over shadowing their vocals which created a further level of class to the show.

‘The Harmonics have that perfect mix of traditional big band/jazz standard style with an original fusion of great vocals, blindingly good arrangements, passion, and creativity. This show was stunning and is a credit to four guys who have a pretty amazing sound, and album – available at the end of their shows. See these guys and be owed!’

Set List

Route 66
Come Fly with Me
I Wanna Be Like You
If I Fell In Love
Glen Miller’s Chattanooga Choo Choo
Build Me Up
Moon Dance

Encore

Randy Crawford’s Street Life

C central (cabaret bar) 15-30 Aug at 18:15 (0hr50)
Tickets £8.50-£10.50 / concessions £7.50-£9.50 / children £5.50-£7.50
Universal To book tickets call 0845 260 1234