Theatre review: Death Boogie, Assembly Roxy (Venue 139), Edinburgh

By ANDREA MULLANEY
Published on 08/08/2012 10:52

Part agitprop theatre, part hip-hop poetry jam, part live action comic book, it takes a while to get to grips with this lively American show.

Death Boogie

Assembly Roxy (Venue 139)

Star rating: * * *

Gradually, a narrative emerges: the loosely sketched life of Victor Spartan, an office drone whose days blur into one big yawn. But by night his dreams are haunted by the cooler, rhyme-spitting activist version of himself, as well as characters who embody the show’s critique of Western democracy. Rapping poet Darian Dauchan embodies Victor and his alter egos with tremendous energy, while on double bass and violin provide quirky, jazzy backing. Behind them, sketch animations illustrate the story. But while the commitment is uncompromising, the structure doesn’t hang together and too many numbers seem unconnected to the whole: it’s unclear what a section inspired by the legend of Prometheus has to do with anything and introducing a skit about childhood by announcing “Victor has a flashback” seems lazy. Still, there’s a lot to like in this earnest attempt to revive hip hop’s radical origins.

• Until 27 August. Today 7:50pm.