Edinburgh Fringe Review - Electric Eden ✭✭✭
Review by Ellen Cree
Electric Eden by theatre troupe Not Too Tame is
quite different how you would stereotypically imagine theatre to be, however it
is important to remember that nothing can be deemed ‘normal’ during the Fringe.
This piece of ‘party theatre’ takes place in the famous Electric Circus music
venue, where its pub set up plays a significant role in the action. The
audience are made a part of the performance from the start. Upon arriving, each
of us that entered the bar were approached to have UV paint applied to our
faces, implying we’d be in for a energetic hour. While in the bar, before the
actual performance commenced, the actors, in character, mingled with the
audience, asking about their day and if they’d like a drink. The performance
itself mostly consisted of a rally in memory of the late Tommy Eden who
suffered from a fatal a heart attack while being moved away by security from a
posh new spa across the road from where he would spend his time busking. Eden
was a local hero and a beloved grandfather whose legacy sees the locals gather
to celebrate his life, protest against his death and to party hard to disrupt
the corporate bullies across the road in the spa.
Each character has a different outlook on the
protest, each believing that their protesting and raving is a great idea to
commemorate Tommy Eden, all apart from Tommy’s granddaughter who is conflicted,
pregnant and struggling financially. Tommy’s granddaughter is made a generous
offer by a representative of the spa who offers her large sum of money, but in
exchange, Tommy’s granddaughter must shut down the project and claim that the
volunteers have been exploiting and using her grandfather’s death for their own
personal gain.
While the story is both fun and upbeat, it is also
very gripping and allows for moments of thought and reflection. Each of the
cast also performs their own poetic monologues which give us a deeper insight
into their backgrounds and why protesting for Tommy is important to them.
The strange thing about Electric Eden is that it
takes place in the middle of the afternoon while it has vibe of an evening or
late night show. It was quite a shock to the system when I left the dark venue
and ventured back outside into broad daylight. I feel that it is also important
to mention that is show is definitely not for the more anxious of us as there
may be occasions you are asked up for a whirl around the dance floor!
Overall, Electric Eden is a fun show that will, however, leave you feeling a little on edge...
