“It’s a rollercoaster of emotions in a well told tale”
Lions, on the surface, is an absurdist clown show with two wild and wonderful performances. Underneath the facade, it is a tender exploration of grief and dealing with the aftermath of death. It is a wonderfully taboo subject that needs to be spoken about more, the business of dealing with death before the emotions can kick in. This show is raw and emotional in the way it deals with these issues, leading to a satisfying and poignant end.
The show is performed and written by Scott R. Sheppard and Alice Yorke. They both excel playing these heightened versions of themselves and their fathers. They both command the stage, and have the amazing ability to transform from ultra-silly to sombre in a heartbeat. The buffoonery on stage is top class as are the moments of quiet reflection.
The direction, courtesy of Sarah Blush is also great. She has managed to help grasp every bit of emotion from these actors in their performance and has ensured that not one inch of the performance space is not utilised. The design of the piece is wonderful too. The table laden with mementos from the lives of the fathers is excellent, and builds to quite a memorable image near the end.
This is a piece that has a journey in its own development. It is an exploration of grief by people that are still figuring out their own journeys with grief. It can and will develop as the writer’s journeys do. Maybe it is exactly that which makes the ending feel a little rushed. It is not necessarily an ending but a midpoint to jump off for now.
Lighting Rod Special give us a wonderful treat in this piece, and it is exciting to wait and see what comes next from them on this journey.
Show Listing: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/lions
LISTINGS INFORMATION:
Venue: TechCube0 at Summerhall
Dates: 19.30
Time: 6th – 30th August
Ticket prices: £17.00 / concessions £14.50
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com
Suitable for 12+ (Guideline)