Showing @ Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh until Sat 22 Dec
Do you believe in an afterlife? It’s a straightforward question, but perhaps not so easy to answer. You may not be convinced of eternity or that death is the end. At this time of year, ideas of faith and religion may be on our minds, but as Peepolykus’ production suggests, spirituality is not synonymous with religion and these questions do not necessarily need to be asked in a church, but can be in a theatre.
The Traverse Theatre’s wittily philosophical Christmas show begins with Jenny (Gabriel Quigley) introducing the audience to her VIVA PhD lecture on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, spirituality and phenomenology. She has hired two actors, John (Nicholson) and Javier (Marzan) to help bring it to life. Disaster ensues.
There’s no tinsel or tat, stereotypes or sentimentality. Instead, a rather un-Christmassy Christmas show that seems to brilliantly capture the darker side of the festive spirit. Through the exploration of Conan Doyle’s relationship with spirituality, the play questions faith, logic as well as Javier’s ambiguous relationship with Jenny. The script is well thought-out, intelligent, quirky and reflective; an antidote for the traditional extravagance of panto season. Holmes and Watson feature, as does Houdini and his wife, and Frances and Elsie – the cousins who famously faked fairy photographs. Peepolykus have cooked a feast of brain food that will provoke thought and discussion long after the curtain call.