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ED FRINGE: The Sneeze – Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose, Edinburgh

Reviewer: Dominic Corr

Writer: Anton Chekov

Adaptor: Michael Frayn

Director: Amanda Redman & David Threlfall

From the newly created ATS Productions, with the intention to encourage the opportunity for fresh generations of performers, the troupe mark their Festival Fringe outing with a valiant adaptation of The Sneeze; a selection of five one-act plays by one of literature’s finest playwrights and short-story novelists – Anton Chekov.

Opening with a jaunty musical number, initially an eyebrow raises, but settles as the make-shift drumbeats begin to form a rhythm and assure audiences that this incarnation of Chekov’s collection of short plays is something entirely new, but in safe hands.

In elements the unapologetic nature of Chekov’s writing remains, but with sharp repose, co-directors Amanda Redman and David Threlfall grasp the nature of the text and lean into this distinct language and mechanics, playing to the cast’s strengths.

Emma Duke and Lawrence Ellis’s lead roles in Chekov’s The Bear a fine example of spinning the ingenuity and forthright nature of Chekov’s text into something tightly humorous. Their performance ranges from bordering the absurd, to the distinctively hyper-realistic, not cheapening the humour but pushing key words and actions to garner responses from the audience.

The addition of an unfortunate Graeme Sanders, who often finds himself the folly of physical humour, aids tremendously in furthering the physicality and dedication to the adaptation of the stories. Juggling the roles of servant, to coachman, and into the aristocracy, the pacing Sanders demonstrates is remarkable – something they share with co-star Rory Hobson, who handles the difficulty of a monologue with ease.

The titular ‘Sneeze’ is a solid closer for the production, which has thus far rippled with laughter before cracking open the barrel of laughs for full effect. Matthew Charles carrying much of the weight in this final number, with Emma Duke and Sanders providing a matched pacing and turn physical comedy into a ballet of farcical timing and mistaken actions,

But for the limitations with scripting, there is no performance pulling their weight. Indeed, ATS Production comedic adaptation of The Sneeze is something quite brilliant is simplicity and understanding of the inherent text. It is without question a trickier and more intellectual production to jump into, but the production team do a sterling job in opening the accessibility of the show for a wider audience and remind us of all to the monumental juggernaut Chekov’s short span of writing was, and the brilliance of one of his lesser, though still appreciated works.

Runs until 28 August 2022

The Reviews Hub Score

Brilliant simplicity

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The Reviews Hub - Scotland

The Scotland team is under the editorship of Lauren Humphreys. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. We aim to review all professional types of theatre, whether that be Commercial, Repertory or Fringe as well as Comedy, Music, Gigs etc.

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