Cross Purpose, TC3, Brodie's Close, Lawnmarket

Published on Wednesday 19 August 2009 09:18

Cross Purpose **** TC3, Brodie's Close, Lawnmarket

ALTHOUGH Albert Camus is mostly remembered as a Nobel Prize-winning French novelist and political essayist, he was also a man of the theatre. He served at various times as actor, director, playwright and translator for the stage, and his two most important plays are Caligula (1938) and Cross Purpose (1944).

It is the latter work which Finda Penny theatre company tackle at this year's Fringe – and a fine job they make of it, too. The tragic tale of murder and mistaken identity, Cross Purpose concerns a man who returns home to his family after 20 years of travelling. What he doesn't know is that, during his absence, mother and sister have been robbing and killing rich travellers in order to save enough money to one day move to the seashore. Unable to find the words to reveal his identity, the prodigal son decides to spend the night in the inn posing as a stranger – a big mistake. Bleak as it is, Cross Purpose is what all Fringe drama should be – well acted, well paced and with a compelling story.

Run ends 31 August

Francis The Holy Jester ****

Pleasance Courtyard

Neil McEwan

FRANCIS of Assisi – Saint, founder of the Franciscan order, lover of animals and apparently stand-up comic. At least that's the suggestion of this wonderful show. Penned by Dario Fo and performed with exquisite timing and exuberance by Fo veteran Mario Pirovano these four tales of the life – and death – of the Saint tell of a man of wit and love for life and humanises a figure all too often seen as remote and well, saintly.

There's bawdiness, drunkenness, sex, violence, toilet humour and pigs all crammed into this show and Pirovano brings it all beautifully to life. Definitely worth seeing and even giving it a second visit.

Run ends 31 August

Little Gem ****

Traverse, Cambridge Street

Claire Wood

LITTLE Gem is a gorgeous play that tells the story of three generations of women and their lives and loves in modern-day Dublin. Kay has an itch she cannot scratch, her daughter is going salsa dancing with a hairy stranger and Lorraine's daughter is drinking far too much sambuca.

This is a cracking script that deals out comedy and tears in equal measure and left this audience sniflfing long after the lights came up. The play premiered in the Dublin festival last year and scooped up a raft of very well-deserved awards for both writing and acting.

Performances from Hilda Fay, Anita Reeves and Sarah Greene are all beautifully judged

Little Gem celebrates how well ordinary people can cope with the extraordinary with courage, frustration but ultimately, grace.

Run ends 30 August