Theatre review: Piatto Finale, Zoo (Venue 124), Edinburgh

By SALLY STOTT
Published on 20/08/2012 15:58

WHAT this mad show lacks in coherence it makes up for with the comic exuberance of its performers – the Lecoq trained Maria Askew, Frode Gjerlow and Simon Maeder – who also devised it.

Piatto Finale

Zoo (Venue 124)

Star rating: * * *

Set in an opera house in 1930s Moscow, it uses physical theatre, puppetry and clowning to tell a tale of arbitrary murder and an incongruous search to find a lost piece of music, the Piatto Finale.

It’s enjoyable largely due to the manic trio’s refusal to take anything at all seriously, hamming up their characters and shooting wry glances at the audience. It’s frequently impossible to explain what’s going on and why and, while there really needs to be a much sharper story to pull off this kind of farce, it’s great to see talented people having so much.

The audience were either having a truly amazing time or, I suspect, were hired (possibly drunk) friends of the company as their excessively loud reactions frequently drowned what was happening on stage. “We hope we have people like you in every night,” a bemused Askew said at the end. I hope not, as this is an engaging piece which, despite its flaws, deserves to be properly heard.

• Until 26 August. Today 10:20pm.