AND THEY PLAYED SHANG-A-LANG
Edinburgh Little Theatre
Back for its 8th year, Shang-a-Lang continues to be a crowd pleaser. Written, directed, and narrated by Derek Douglas, it tells the near true story of Derek’s brother (James), who was killed in an automobile accident whilst working on his last production. The show is presented in a series of sketches which map James’ trials and tribulations of youth and adolescence in the 70’s. The standout scene, which had me doubled over in laughter, is the recollection of a childhood nativity play, when young Mary accidentally pops the head off the baby Jesus. Poignant moments are paired with classic 70’s hits by ABBA, Queen and, of course, the Bay City Rollers. No matter what your background or age, the show is relatable and great fun all round.
AVENUE Q
Edinburgh Little Theatre
I first saw Avenue Q on Broadway in 2004, after it won the Tony Award. It was irreverent, raucous, and I loved every minute of what seemed to be the definitive production. I’m happy to say that ELT’s revival topped my expectations. The show is a mix of human characters and puppets (think X-Rated ‘Sesame Street’ crossed with ‘Family Guy’). Some may find it distracting to see actors manipulating the furry cast on stage, but it is quickly forgotten. Stand outs, were the vocal talents of Robert Haas (Princeton), James Scott (Rod) and Shannon Maria Daly (Kate Monster). Especially moving was Daly’s ‘There’s A Fine, Fine Line’ which brought tears to my eyes. All in all, this was a fine interpretation. Fingers crossed, for its return in 2020.
Guest Reviewer: Kathryn S Kraus
Edited by Kevin Short