Podcast Summary: MickeyJoTheatre – Edinburgh Fringe 2025 Day 5 Reviews

Episode Title: Edinburgh Fringe 2025 Day 5 REVIEWS (Hole!, Jackie!!!, Lost Lear, Ordinary Decent Criminal and more)
Release Date: August 14, 2025
Host: Mickey-Jo from MickeyJoTheatre

Mickey-Jo delves deep into the vibrant offerings of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 in this comprehensive Day 5 review. Covering a diverse range of performances from thought-provoking dramas to outrageous comedies, Mickey-Jo provides insightful critiques and enthusiastic endorsements. Below is a detailed breakdown of the key shows reviewed, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

1. Lost Lear

Venue: Traverse Theatre
Creators: Dan Colley and Company
Adaptation: William Shakespeare's King Lear

Mickey-Jo opens his review with Lost Lear, highlighting its profound adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy. The play intertwines the classic narrative with contemporary themes of familial relationships strained by dementia.

• Plot Overview:
  The story leverages the framework of King Lear to explore an already fragile parent-child relationship exacerbated by dementia. The integration of bespoke semi-theatrical care adds depth to the emotional landscape of the characters.

• Performance Highlights:

  • Projections and Staging: "There was brilliant use of projections. The backdrop was livestreamed from someone assembling small props together to create composite images" (01:50).
  • Puppetry: "The staggering use of puppetry is just absolutely incredible."
  • Lead Performance: Venetia Bowe's portrayal is described as "remarkable," emphasizing her ability to convey complex emotions seamlessly.

• Conclusion:
  Mickey-Jo praises the inventive staging and the subtle unraveling of the narrative, recommending it as a must-see for those who appreciate layered storytelling.

Notable Quote:
"The parallels between King Lear and the story unfolding here are brilliant. It's such a clever concept." (02:15)

2. Ordinary Decent Criminal

Venue: Summerhall
Creator: Ed Edwards
Starring: Mark Thomas

A highly anticipated solo show, Ordinary Decent Criminal offers a gritty glimpse into the British prison system of the 1990s, blending humor with poignant social commentary.

• Plot Overview:
  The narrative follows Frankie, a former addict serving time for a drug conviction. Through vivid solo storytelling, he navigates the challenges of prison life, from avoiding violence to competing in a chess tournament for small rewards.

• Performance Highlights:

  • Character Humanization: "What this story does so well is to convey a sense of their humanity."
  • Political Undercurrents: The show touches on the lingering troubles in Ireland, with Frankie rekindling his revolutionary fervor behind bars.
  • Technical Aspects: "Masterfully performed, brilliantly directed, fantastic lighting design."

• Conclusion:
  Mickey-Jo lauds the show for its emotional depth and authentic portrayal of inmates, positioning it as one of the Fringe's standout performances.

Notable Quote:
"This is a bloody good solo show. Masterfully performed, brilliantly directed, fantastic lighting design." (03:25)

3. Beth Pattison’s Solo Show

Venue: Summerhall
Creator: Beth Pattison

Beth Pattison’s deeply personal solo performance explores the complexities of familial relationships and cultural identity through the lens of her grandmother’s Holocaust survival.

• Plot Overview:
  The show interweaves recollections from Beth's childhood, her interactions with her grandmother Nuzia, and recorded interviews with her mother. Themes of memory, trauma, and identity are poignantly portrayed.

• Performance Highlights:

  • Emotional Impact: "It was perhaps one of the most emotionally hard-hitting shows that I have seen."
  • Staging and Design: Beth's interaction with props, primarily books, symbolizes her quest to uncover and understand her grandmother’s past.
  • Comparative Insight: Reminiscent of Joshua Harmon's We Had a World, but with a unique focus on a young Jewish woman's disconnection from her heritage.

• Conclusion:
  Mickey-Jo commends the show for its heartfelt narrative and powerful performances, emphasizing its ability to resonate with both those familiar and unfamiliar with the Holocaust.

Notable Quote:
"This reminds me a little bit of the Joshua Harmon play We Had a World. Only this one has a slightly more unique and interesting lens." (04:50)

4. Sky

Venue: Summerhall
Playwright: Ellie Keel

Sky is a psychological thriller that delves into themes of neglect, responsibility, and the supernatural, all set within the intimate confines of a Fringe venue.

• Plot Overview:
  The story revolves around four children on holiday in the Isle of Skye, grappling with an alcoholic mother and the sudden appearance of a man resembling their supposedly deceased father.

• Performance Highlights:

  • Storytelling Technique: Utilizes a mix of verbal storytelling and camera work, blending chilling interviews with warm recollections.
  • Character Dynamics: Focuses on the struggles of the children who must assume parental roles amidst mysterious and unsettling circumstances.

• Critique:
  While engaging, Mickey-Jo notes that the narrative sometimes feels more suited for television adaptation and may lack the revelatory impact expected from a theatrical release.

Notable Quote:
"It offers audiences an engaging account of one ultimately dark chapter." (05:45)

5. The Unstoppable Rise of Ben Manager

Venue: Pleasant's Courtyard
Creator: [Unknown]

A surreal satire that lampoons capitalism and office politics through the absurd journey of an unwitting employee's rise within a nondescript company.

• Plot Overview:
  Ben Weaver inadvertently dons a manager’s lanyard, leading to a series of promotions despite his lack of actual work, highlighting the often arbitrary nature of corporate hierarchies.

• Performance Highlights:

  • Musical Elements: Described as "neither a musical nor songs," the show features musicalized repetitions that, despite lacking nuance, are complemented by "ear-splitting volume."
  • Technical Aspects: Incorporates voice-changing sound effects and puppetry, creating a bizarre and engaging theatrical experience.
  • Satirical Tone: The humor is derived from exaggerated office scenarios and the protagonist's unwarranted ascent.

• Critique:
  Mickey-Jo finds the musical moments repetitive and the concept slightly overstretched but acknowledges its unique perspective on workplace absurdities.

Notable Quote:
"The way that this music is realized on stage is also one of its greatest strengths." (07:10)

6. Jackie!!!

Venue: Gilded Balloon Patter House
Creator: [Unknown]
Genre: Comedy Musical

Jackie!!! presents a humorous take on the life of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, juxtaposing her iconic status with irreverent comedy and pop culture references.

• Plot Overview:
  The musical portrays Jackie’s life, interspersed with appearances by other cultural icons like Marilyn Monroe, blending historical moments with comedic elements.

• Performance Highlights:

  • Humor and Tone: Despite being labeled as an "out and out comedy musical," Mickey-Jo feels it lacks sufficient parody and playful references to previous musicals like Evita and Diana.
  • Dramaturgy Issues: Opens with gunshots and a solemn American flag, which Mickey-Jo criticizes as "dramaturgically redundant."

• Critique:
  Mickey-Jo highlights an "identity crisis" within the show, questioning the earnest portrayal of Jackie amid surrounding clownish characters. While there are funny moments, they are too sparse to balance the serious undertones.

Notable Quote:
"This show has something of an identity crisis, because Jackie is presented as a fairly earnest and sincere character." (07:55)

7. Hole!

Venue: Underbelly Cowgate
Creator: [Unknown]
Genre: Original Two-Person Musical Comedy

Arguably the standout of the day, Hole! is an outrageous and hilariously bizarre musical that combines sharp satire with unconventional humor.

• Plot Overview:
  Centers on a small religious community in Utah led by a pastor who believes that wearing butt plugs can suppress their sins. This leads to the community ordering 8,000 wooden butt plugs from Amazon, setting off a chain of absurd events.

• Performance Highlights:

  • Originality and Writing: Described as "structurally sound and brilliantly written," with "ingenious" lyrics that include numerous "butt jokes."
  • Musical and Design: Features "bizarre and quirky design" with live Foley sound effects and musical accompaniment that transform into a queer love story.
  • Comparative Insight: Reminiscent of Book of Mormon, but with a unique twist that makes it feel "uncomfortably shuffle."

• Conclusion:
  Mickey-Jo heralds Hole! as the potential musical hit of the Fringe, lauding its originality, humor, and emotional depth.

Notable Quote:
"Get ready for this to be the surprise musical hit of the Fringe." (06:40)

8. Midnight at the Palace

Venue: Gilded Balloon Patter House
Creator: [Unknown]
Genre: Musical

Midnight at the Palace is an energizing homage to queer artistry, chronicling the rise and fall of an avant-garde drag theatre troupe.

• Plot Overview:
  Follows the Coquettes, a San Francisco-based hippie theatre group, as they gain cultural prominence and navigate the challenges of artistic ambition and interpersonal tensions.

• Performance Highlights:

  • Music and Aesthetics: Labeled as "the Queer Hair," the musical boasts an "undeniable groove" with eclectic and crafty design elements.
  • Cast Performance: Bailey Carson delivers a standout performance, contributing to the show's heartfelt portrayal of queer artistry.
  • Emotional Resonance: Despite a light narrative, the show is praised for its heartfelt depiction of historical queer art movements.

• Conclusion:
  Mickey-Jo appreciates the musical's vibrant energy and emotional heart, deeming it an important representation of queer history and artistry at the Fringe.

Notable Quote:
"The music has an undeniable groove. I really enjoy all of the aesthetic. It's crafty and cobbled together and eclectic." (07:30)

9. Sense

Venue: Space Triplex
Creator: [Unknown]
Genre: Narrative Musical

Sense is a moving narrative musical that delves into the dynamics of a family grappling with the onset of dementia during a Christmas reunion.

• Plot Overview:
  The Smith family convenes for a Christmas meal, only to confront the advancing dementia of their grandfather. This realization unearths deeper emotional fractures and hidden family issues.

• Performance Highlights:

  • Emotional Depth: Successfully portrays the "challenges and the cruelty of Alzheimer's," delivering a heartfelt narrative.
  • Musical Composition: While acoustically performed, the compositions may feel "a little bit off brand" and the lyrics "generic."
  • Cast Performance: The young male lead is "brilliantly expressive," enhancing the show's emotional impact.

• Conclusion:
  Mickey-Jo acknowledges the show's emotional resonance and committed performances, recommending it for its sincere portrayal of family and dementia despite some musical shortcomings.

Notable Quote:
"They do land the emotional impact of this moving story, thanks in large part to the very committed performances." (08:00)

Closing Remarks

Mickey-Jo concludes the day's reviews by encapsulating the diverse range of performances witnessed at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025. From the emotionally charged narratives of Lost Lear and Sense to the boundary-pushing comedy of Hole!, the festival continues to showcase a rich tapestry of theatrical excellence.

Final Thought:
"Honestly, the Edinburgh Fringe at its very best. Go and check it out at Summerhall." (07:00)

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