When a show comes together well it stands out and when two guys put on a show that’s funny, well thought-out and written you have to take a step back and give them their dues. Productivity – A Production About a Product was well conceived, written and performed by two incredible performers who have put in a great deal of thought into this show, you wont see anything as fun as this at the fringe!

Unlike other fringe shows this was totally different, for the very start Tom and Matt created an event and even managed to get two Underbelly staff, Liz and Natalie*, to give us some warnings about Tom and Matt, which did set the tone for the show. What makes Productivity stand out is that though they do have a variety of sketches their overall show follows two men trying to create and sell a product. This was original, funny, and well written. At times it had an element of the surreal about it but their writing is so tight and their characters so different you end up getting soaked into their Bus Mark world.

Liz and Natalie added more than just fodder and I have to say they kind of made their announcement come across really serious at first. Before we came in to the show they stopped us all and said they needed to tell us something because they guys had been breaking the Underbelly Rules took us back. Then when one of them said ‘Don’t give them any money…‘ the scene was set and as wel went into take our seats we where told we are the potential investors for their new product.

In the hour Tom and Matt provide a convincing show in which they become these two doomed and slightly corrupt business men. One of the highlights of their show, in which there where many, was the two versions of a fairytale they told which both included Goldilocks, and the recession, Gordon Brown and the private sector was well written and delivered. Their style as the odd couple worked really well and it gave a great insight into what these guys can do.

Productivity, A Production About a Product was a truly original show that was written and performed to perfection. The relationship between the two guys is essential in the show working and their characters are more than your usual incompetent duo. They really had something here, their final product was a touch of class and every so often Liz and Natalie would come in and asked them what they where doing ‘…this sounds like a pyramid scheme.’

Every aspect of this show has been taken into account from the pitches during the show to their dedicated website, such efforts can only produce a solid show, they got that and much more besides.

‘Tom and Matt are really talented performers, funny in that very hard and classic British way, their show was timed to perfection, exceptionally written, and unique. They hold your attention throughout and I was one more suggestion away from actually investing. These guys won Best Student Show in 2009 and its clear they are on the right path to becoming a very successful comedy duo…’

*Liz and Natalie are part of the show from the start, but where wearing two borrowed Underbelly Hoodies.

This is a quick post about the second Doctor Faustus that we have seen at the Fringe 2010. Very different to the Cambridge ADC production at C Venues which was a good thing. This production has a high energy, music, lighting and a cast who put in one amazing show.

It was interesting to see this production and both complement each other in that they both have managed to interpret Marlowe’s classic in two very distinct ways. For this production of Doctor Faustus the scene is more circus than study and Mephistopheles is played by a woman who also acts like a ring master during the whole show.

There is an incredible sense of energy and fun throughout the whole play. The use of good vs evil is represented on stage by two clowns who both try to stir Faustus in their direction. What I found was interesting was that the good angel seemed to have admitted defeat already long before Faustus makes up his mind. And much like the ADC production the 7 deadly sins are used to maximum affect. Faustus’s decent into this world is masterfully achieved.

The production use of live music (most of it being played by the Devil) adds to the production, at time it is quiet warm and gentle and at others pretty frantic and scary. As we enter the end of the play Faustus decent into hell is handled with skill and vision. This was a wonderfully acted production that gave a classic a new twist, though remaining quite traditional the addiction of music, the costumes, and setting made it stand out.

At the end the audience was on their feet and the applause was deafening, these guys achieved a great deal and put on a major success.

‘To not see Doctor Faustus at the Fringe is like going to Vagas and not seeing Elvis. To be able to see two productions of such high quality is rare. Offshoots production (with Lancaster University Theatre Group) is a triumph, from acting to setting the idea is fresh and original and their show was a stunning example of what a student production can be!’

Pending Re-edit!

The sketch show format is one of the hardest forms of comedy you can think of doing. For this to would you need sketches that are tight, well written, and performed with total conviction. The Dog Eared Collectives “Joyride” show had some good sketches and some well ironed bits but overall there seemed to be a lag of sorts, though that said their show was a success and the audience loved them.

Sketch shows need to be broad and have mass appeal and if your bringing something to the fringe then you need to make it’s appeal even more broad. Sometimes this works and you can get a real sense of who they are meaning, and where they are going. “Joyride” was a little hit and miss with their humour a lot more darker than you would have thought for a Fringe audience. This was not a negative thing, their extreem morris dancers, the relationship coach’s, and Rita the party planner where well delivered.

These gave a great insight into what these guys can do and these sketches where funny. Though they would have worked a lot better with a younger audience (I wont say student) and if for the Rita sketch they got up a real audience member this would have been amazing, as it was one of the Collective was chosen as the ‘birthday girl’ which was still cruel and funny.

One of the left field aspects of their show was the Sally Gunnel sketches and the olympics was something of a theme of their show. The guys worked well together and part from the occasional slip or fluff they seemed to have a lot of fun and this came out in their show. If they had used a smaller venue I think it would have worked better as a lot of what they do is better close up and they would get a better feel of the audience.

Over all the show worked, their humour was a little insane and dark, but was their appeal. This was a different and unique sketch show that was pretty enjoyable and some bits (Mark from the audience) where priceless…

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.