{"id":20563,"date":"2015-08-11T01:11:04","date_gmt":"2015-08-11T08:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=20563"},"modified":"2015-08-14T04:34:51","modified_gmt":"2015-08-14T11:34:51","slug":"woolley-eyed-turtle-3d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/woolley-eyed-turtle-3d\/","title":{"rendered":"Woolley Eyed Turtle 3D"},"content":{"rendered":"
above: Woolley Eyed Turtle 3D – Photo Permission: Cantankerous Theatre<\/h6>\n

\u00a0Two zany women – Wildly dynamic physical storytelling!<\/h1>\n

Review by Jo Tomalin<\/p>\n

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Maeve Bell (l) Emily Johnson (r)<\/p>\n

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2015
\nHighly Recommended<\/h3>\n

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These two zany women perform a creatively devised show full of characters set in a community care home in Ireland. You will meet Liam and Noreen, Grace and others as the exuberant Maeve Bell and Emily Johnson take you on this journey. It\u2019s comedic and fun, for sure, but also witty and heartfelt.<\/h4>\n

The Saint Mary Magdelene Mother of Hope Care Home\u2019s motto is \u201cWhat fills your day, prolongs your stay\u201d so we first learn about the activities that will keep everyone not cantankerous. As the carers go about their work they discover the patrons\u2019 life stories and take on the characters themselves, which is very entertaining \u2013 it is then that we are invited to put on our 3D glasses.<\/p>\n

Although Bell and\u00a0Johnson are nowhere near the ages of the characters they portray, they do a great job switching between several characters. Wearing dark green unitards and the same short black hair style, they become male and female characters of all ages moving easily between various accents. This is quite a feat because they don\u2019t even add costumes \u2013 there\u2019s no time \u2013 but their strength is in the physical aspects of telling the story, so they simply adjust their posture and facial expressions. Maeve Bell has some particularly exaggerated expressions \u2013 sometimes her eyes seem to pop out of her head, while her mouth contorts \u2013 it\u2019s hilarious!<\/p>\n

There\u2019s music and movement too \u2013 Contemporary \/ Irish dance mash up, which add to the playful absurdist nature of Cantankerous Theatre. Both performers take turns narrating and it\u2019s very effective, even to the back row. They also integrate objects into their storytelling such as the bit with a toy plane, which is fun.<\/p>\n

What sets this show apart is how the performers relate to each other – they are Yin and Yang, complementing each other well. There is mischief, charm and warmth in the show coming from how Bell and\u00a0Johnson interact, really listening and reacting to each other and the audience. They enjoy what they are doing and therefore, this ripples out to the audience. The story, packed full of fascinating intergenerational observations is well developed, and although some moments are probably improvised the structure is solid and they stay on track \u2013 women on a mission! Oh, the woolley eyed turtle? Well you\u2019ll have to go and discover that for yourself \u2013 it will be worthwhile.<\/p>\n

The PBH Free Fringe 2015 is producing a lot of theatre shows this year. Therefore, this show – Woolley Eyed Turtle 3D – is free, no tickets or reservations required!<\/p>\n

Free \u00a0 \u00a0 7:30pm at Cafe Camino (55 minutes), to August 29, 2015 – No Mondays at Venue 65, Little King Street, Edinburgh<\/p>\n