A PLAY with an excess of gentleness and low-key charm, Aireborne Theatre's Jumping and Other Thoughts is one of those Fringe shows which slips under the radar and then comes right into its own as a speculative ticket purchase. It's better than just a
little gem to be stumbled across; it deserves an audience who have eagerly sought it out.
Amid a shining ensemble cast and a clearly talented behind-the-scenes crew, it's the direction of Fringe newcomer Becky Martin that deserves the most praise. Although the script by Rich Thornton, Jess Heywood and Al Cummins is lightly pleasing rather than hugely insightful, Martin coaxes every inch of potential from it. At just 21, she hopefully has a long and bright career waiting for her.
A photographic darkroom assistant delivers a lecture-like monologue on processing photographs – ie, rolls of film. His passion for this dying technique emphasises the retro, homespun nature of the play. Ways of seeing occupy the four female characters too. Photographer Annie obsesses over her craft to the exclusion of her friendship with the lonely Katie, while Summer, who has synaesthesia, teams up with journalist Fran to discover whether a dead homeless man was affected by the same condition.
The aesthetic of quality indie cinema looms large here. Art Pedro's guitar soundtrack is minimal but evocative, and at certain points characters freeze-frame in the midst of a scene.
And touchingly, cards are pulled from the washing line strung up around the stage and read out, having been used beforehand to collect the audience's thoughts on the last time they felt alive. These are affecting moments in a quite gorgeous play.
Until 23 August. Tomorrow 1:50pm
The full article contains 296 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
