Presented by House of Oz and Sons of Susan
Review by Harri Dimdore-Miles
The Box at Assembly George Square
If I had more stars to give ‘BIRDS’ I readily would. Australian duo Alex Hines and Sarah Stafford are something else. Their show ‘BIRDS’ is an absurdist dark comedy about two glamorous middle-aged Huns who find an unexpected instant bond at the beach. As they natter about their lives, their similarity and differences, they notice the world is slowly ending around them – no matter Beverly and Shayna stay put, smoking piles of cigarettes and basking in the scorching Australian sun.
Everything about this show is spot on. The costume and make up is perfectly over the top, both characters sporting voluptuous hair and clown like makeup. The set is simple yet popping, with two classic deck chairs, an esky and yellow flooring. The sound is expertly used with transitions in scenes perfectly scored such that they become hilarious dances and rituals rather than awkward technical gaps. It’s also rare to see comedies use lighting in such intelligent ways, but in ‘BIRDS’ lights conveys moods, signals time shifts and sets up perfect punch lines.
Beyond this, the real show is two phenomenal performers and the most unbelievably funny writing. The dialogue is thick with humour and there are probably just a handful of lines in the entire hour of constant conversation that didn’t trigger a hearty laugh – a welcomed minute to breathe. The script perfectly toes the line of grotesqueness and wickedness, providing a satisfying uncomfortableness that comes with listening to bold comedy. Word play, ridiculous niche references, insane physical comedy, pantomime style repetition and miscommunication; the direction and script of this show tickle your funny bone from all angles.
Hines and Stafford are both powerhouses on stage. They embody their characters to a tea and lean so perfectly into individual differences and similarities of Shayna and Beverly. The chemistry between the two is a joy to watch and personifies their ridiculous caricature of female friendships. They both skilfully manoeuvre tongue twister style lines and high energy demanding monologues without fault. As well as their incredible cadence and delivery of their lines, both are masters of physical comedy. Their facial expressions and posture as they melt in the sun are disturbing and hysterical, the spectacle makes the audience genuinely cringe at the scene of decay.
Finally, what really tops this show off, making it the perfect comedy, is the deeper message behind it. The world topples around them and Beverly and Shayna don’t seem to notice nor seem to care until they are literally melting into their deck chairs. You laugh hysterically the entire way until you sit with yourself after and grimace at how un-absurd the plot actually is.
Genuine Talent
BIRDS: Alex Hines and Sarah Stafford runs Venue 8, The Box at Assembly George Square at 19:00
Running time – Sixty minutes
Review by Harri Dimdore-Miles (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Harri is a recent graduate from Edinburgh University where they studied Philosophy for four years. They are a drag artist and comedian who performs under the alias “Lord Sugar Daddy” and have been in the scene for just over two years. They love absurd character comedy, all things silly and camp. You can often find them in Paradise Palms or Leith Arches attending of participating in events like Fruit Salad and Bro Code. Further afield Harri was involve in the drag scene in Australia on her year abroad, where she brought her writing and performing to queer fundraisers, cabaret competitions and music festivals.
Harri has been a keen goer of the Fringe since she was just twelve years old and is particularly interested in this year’s drag kings, clowns and character comedians! That being said she believe that using comedy as a vessel to deliver bigger philosophical or political messages is the most powerful and disarming kind of theatre – so she’ll be searching for some more weighty productions too. Anything off beat, with sharp writing is her forte.
