Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show is?
I’m American songwriter and performer Benjamin Scheuer. I’m originally from New York, and I live in London now. A MOUNTAIN FOR ELODIE is a new 75-minute solo-musical that I wrote about family, marriage, fatherhood, childhood, and sex and death. It’s got some really good songs in it. I’m performing it Aug 4th-27th at the Gilded Balloon, every evening at 8pm.
Tell us about the creative team and process involved?
The Fringe is a really good place to take wild artistic risks. I was last at the Fringe in 2013 with a show I wrote and performed called THE BRIDGE; I changed the show’s name to THE LION before I performed it off-Broadway, where I won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance. I then performed THE LION in London where it won the off-West End Award for Best New Musical. So with any hope, A MOUNTAIN FOR ELODIE will begin a long and exciting life at the Fringe!
How does it feel coming to the Fringe?
Olivier-winning Polly Findlay is directing A MOUNTAIN FOR ELODIE. (I loved her recent production of Assassins at Chichester.) I think she’s a genius, so I’ll let her answer this one. Polly, what say you about our collaboration?
Polly Findlay: Benjamin and I are both new parents, and our collaboration on the development of A MOUNTAIN FOR ELODIE has in many ways charted/tracked our own progress navigating the first few chapters of parenthood. So I guess you could say that our journey of creative discovery has mapped pretty neatly onto our journey of personal discovery
There are over 3,000 shows at the Fringe. So, what sets your show apart?
Well, the Los Angeles Times says I “play guitar as if I invented the instrument.” I’ve got 6 really cool guitars on stage as my cast-mates. Here’s a video of me playing my ’72 Les Paul Goldtop, on a song from the show called “Here I Come, Los Angeles,” about how, at one point, I put my career ahead of my marriage. It didn’t go well.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
Here’s a video of the show’s title song, “A Mountain for Elodie,” performed with an orchestra live at Abbey Road. I’d be glad if folks left the show singing this one!
Your ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t there…
My father died when I was thirteen. Much of this show is about him, and how my relationship with him changed once I had a child of my own. I hope my father hears these songs, wherever he is. I sing to him directly in the song “When It Ends.”
It’s an intense month, so where you’re able, how do you plan to relax, and are there any other shows you intend to see or want to recommend?
Jane Bruce, a fantastic NYC-based singer-songwriter and actor, is coming to the Fringe with her show “Mother Mama Mommy” from Aug 14-19.
I’m really excited to see the comedy “Sex Job” directed by the brilliant Matt Gehring.
In your ideal world, how can we improve the world of the Fringe, of performance, and the industry?
It’s glorious that live music and theatre are bouncing back after the challenges of the last 3+ years. Let’s all keep looking after and supporting one another, so we can have many more years of the Edinburgh Fringe.
