Writer: Torrey Shine
Director: Torrey Shine
Dipping into the Free Fringe, on the fringe of the Edinburgh Fringe, is a hit-and-miss affair. Some shows are solo spin-offs from more elaborate paid-for creations on the Fringe itself. Others, like this one, are debut appearances by international artists keen to try their hand here.
Torrey Shine is a versatile writer and performer from the USA, equally at home with spoken word, comedy, music and movement. Her afternoon show, in the pleasant back room of a record shop and café just off the Royal Mile, is one of those good little spacer offerings you can easily fit in between longer pieces.
It’s a slick and clever 45 minutes, described as a theatrical mashup of lyrics and melodies of the 1980s, though there are also a fair few references to songs from other decades.
In the guise of alter ego Eileen, Shine uses lyrics to tell an archetypal all-American coming of age story. She’s a confident performer, happy to break into song here and there without backing music, and to use dance and movement where they underline the drama.
Her selection of lyrics, and the way she’s combined them, is witty and inventive. You have to stay focused to keep up with some of the references. All in all, this is a nice diversion in a very central location.
Runs until 27 August 2023
