What to see at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Well, I can't say that I can give a definitive guide but I can say a few things that, if you're going, could benefit you.
I'll be positive and pass over our less up-building experiences. So, if you have the chance go to see these:
No Living Room (Alkamie Theatre -check out the video of clips) is a multimedia performance in which a dancer performs inside a computer -generated virtual reality projected over the stage. There is a neat fusion of live action and virtual environment which complements the soundtrack's sometimes humorous and often thought-provoking sampling of comments on environmental crisis and consumerism (including the song 'Start wearing purple' by Gogol Bordello -now my fave fun/ironic song). The whole is quite enchanting, well performed and thought-provoking; working on a few levels.

My other top pick is Limbik Theatre's Harbour. This is a retelling of a Selkie tale but don't let that put you off if you aren't a fan of folkloric story; this is a really clever retelling and nicely acted with a well adapted live sound track using mainly cello. Good features are the way that the symbolic dimensions of the folklore are allowed to interact with the 'real' world horizon of the story; so a multi-level semantic topography which has you thinking over aspects of it long after you have left the theatre space.

Also enjoyable was the use of props; with economy and cleverness of vision; wellie boots also did duty as fish, for example and fish nets were very nicely used to represent the tide. The small acting team played multiple parts and did so well offering some nice characterisations. The actors mostly used north American accents (so giving a feel of a New England or perhaps Newfie setting) though one actor used a Dutch acccent, and the origin of the selkie tales was invoked by what appeared to be the use of Gaelic at moments of tension (but that was only an impression of a non-speaker but sometime hearer).

We also saw some good children's theatre and would commend to you the following: Aberglass; Arabian Nights; The Emporer's Quest; The Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business. Of these I'd particularly remember the mole one for the quality of acting and the thoughtfulness in making sure it really is a children-friendly performance along with some good music and quick changes!
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