REVIEW: Over The Threshold
5 Stars *****
A new British musical full of love, confusion, passion and deceit.
Anyone who has been in a relationship of some form or another, good or bad will find something to relate to in this sometimes hysterical, sometimes gut wrenching new musical theatre show.
Starring Trevor Jary (Dirty Dancing, Jerry Springer: The Opera, Joseph), Helen French (Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera,), Kieran Brown, originally from Falkirk, Scotland (Les Miserables) and Madalena Alberto (Zorro The Musical) Over The Threshold is 75 minutes of your life exceptionally well spent.
A porta-cabin behind George Square as a performance space, nothing of note in the way of costumes or props, minimal lighting and with a cast of only 4, at first glance, Over The Threshold runs the risk of being a drab piece of theatre.
However, with a script and score bursting with realism, humour and sorrow and performances lifted straight from the West End stage this is anything but.
I found myself laughing and crying in equal measure. The acting is brilliant, the vocals are simply stunning and there was a not a note out of tune.
Each of the performers brought out their characters feistiness and vulnerability and each played the entire show in their own accent which is a refreshing change.
There was only a piano for accompaniment (played superbly by the writer and composer Christopher Hamilton) and this really helped with the minimal staging - anything more would have been overkill in such a small space.
To be honest, the performers could probably sing along with someone playing the spoons and still be amazing!
If you have any spaces left in your Fringe diary, this show is a must see.
Helen Raw - Raw Talent Productions (Writing for Edinburgh247.com)
More info at www.overthethreshold.co.uk.
