Showing @ Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh until Mon 25 Aug @ 15:30
Clad all in white and without the help of any props or set, the three members of Sleeping Trees use just themselves to perform this funny, imaginative and more than a little embellished retelling of Homer’s Odyssey. Not worrying about accuracy, this show works because the story is a caricature of its original self.
With the way the performers jump (sometimes literally) between characters and scenes, it has the feel of a sketch show but with a narrative gluing it all together. Their characterisation is often hilarious – particularly the Northern Ares – and the question of how the next mythological figure will be portrayed is a constant fuel for humour. As well as funny, the script is tight enough to allow for the rapid succession of character and scene changes to take place without confusing the action.
The cast keep their litany of personas imbued with a fizzing, pent up energy that suits the bizarre and ridiculous action happening on stage. It’s this unabashed commitment that prevents the show becoming a mess of silly voices and bizarre scenarios. There are also some impressive bits of physical theatre proving that this isn’t just a group of pals chaotically larking about, but is a well constructed comedy play by a trio of talented and inventive entertainers. The display is all the more impressive when you consider they have another two shows which they rotate in their time slot.