Theatre review: The Prophetic Visions of Bethany Lewis

Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Love puppets? Less keen on kids? Try this late-night marionette melodrama when all the children have gone to bed.

Underbelly, Cowgate (Venue 61)

***

The Prophetic Visions of Bethany Lewis may sound like a made-for-TV movie but is a fast-moving 45 minutes of silly, satirical fun from the Avenue Q school of puppetry.

Our heroine Bethany is a furry purple puppet of indeterminate species who has celebrity thrust upon her when a bump on the head from a can of beans lands her with the gift of spookily accurate foresight. Don’t you hate it when that happens?

Her nice but dim husband Gary isn’t too sure, while her plain-speaking, chain-smoking best mate Jade remains unmoved as furry celebrities, followed by those at the highest level of government – a blonde mop-top puppet (who could that be?) and a pig – beat a path to her door.

Thanks to the slick work of the three puppeteers, the action is so fast-paced as to be almost throwaway but their ability to imbue even a trio of yellow fluffy blobs with distinct personalities is what gives this show its gleeful entertainment value. Ideal for ending your Fringe day with a feelgood laugh.

Until 27 August. Today 2:45pm.