{"id":13640,"date":"2014-08-16T11:15:08","date_gmt":"2014-08-16T18:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=13640"},"modified":"2014-08-17T20:43:18","modified_gmt":"2014-08-18T03:43:18","slug":"edinburgh-fringe-spectrum-by-seam-theatre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/edinburgh-fringe-spectrum-by-seam-theatre\/","title":{"rendered":"Edinburgh Fringe: Spectrum by Seam Theatre"},"content":{"rendered":"

(above) Spectrum<\/em> with Maeve Bell and Samuel Lennox\u00a0 Photo credit: Matthew Thomas<\/p>\n

Review by Jo Tomalin<\/p>\n

\u00a0Spectrum ***** (Five Stars)<\/h1>\n

\"image<\/a><\/p>\n

Spectrum<\/em> with Samuel Lennox, Maeve Bell and Dermot Nelson
\nPhoto credit: Matthew Thomas<\/p>\n

Seam Theatre\u2019s fascinating new devised play Spectrum<\/em> is based on the life of Temple Grandin, a well-known American scholar, doctor and animal behaviour consultant, with autism. Maeve Bell plays Grandin from a three year old through to adult, and does it with sincerity and integrity.<\/p>\n

Bell not only plays the lead character but she also wrote and directed the play. In the US Grandin is a leading spokesperson and activist for autism and a best-selling author, who is also on the autistic spectrum, and Bell is passionate about bringing her inspiring story to the UK, where Grandin is hardly known at all.<\/p>\n

Bell\u2019s script is humourous, poignant and enlightening. The play moves along snappily through short scenes with the cast doubling up playing several different characters each. The ensemble of actors speak with American accents very effectively, and Bell is so authentic in her performance that the accent blends in as part of the character beautifully – and never sounds out of place or inconsistent, as is often the case.<\/p>\n

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Spectrum<\/em> with Dermot Nelson and Samuel Lennox
\nPhoto credit: Matthew Thomas<\/p>\n

Actors deftly move around\u00a0two tall metal shelf units that become everything and everywhere in this play. \u00a0Sound effects and music add a dimension to this show that takes us to the world of autism \u2013 with the loud zapping sounds showing Grandin\u2019s feeling of internal sensory overload when people get near or touch her, and to the US through brief bursts of upbeat American songs during transitions, and the characters Grandin meets on her journey.<\/p>\n

Bell has experience working with people with autism \u2013 on the spectrum – and it shows in her fine-tuned performance and in how she sensitively brought out several nuances people with autism often experience, in the play – as the actor, author, deviser and director. \u00a0When a play is moving, entertaining and enlightening it a wonderful achievement and Spectrum<\/em> is all these things. Don\u2019t miss it!<\/p>\n