Theatre review: Dusty Horne's Sound and Fury

You may not recognise the name Dusty Horne, but you'll almost certainly have heard her work.

Star rating: ***

Venue: Pleasance Dome (Venue 23)

She’s provided the sound effects for a number of Hollywood legends, from Alfred Hitchcock to Roger Corman, and struck out to make her name after parting ways with her mentor (and alleged credit-stealer) Jack Foley. (If you’re a movie buff, you’ll definitely have heard of Jack Foley, even if just via the job title of the sound effects specialists who followed in his footsteps: Foley artists.)

After losing her way in showbiz, Dusty’s ready to make a comeback – starting with this movie masterclass at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Horne is brought to life by Natasha Pring, who gives the Hollywood has-been a manic, just-this-side of-unhinged energy. With the aid of several volunteers, she unveils the tricks of her trade (celery sticks are dead ringers for broken bones, apparently), as well as unwittingly revealing some secrets from her past.

The show generates more chuckles than belly laughs, but a slow build through the second act climaxes in one hell of a mass-participation finale. Movie buffs, feel free to add an extra star – this one’s definitely for you.

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