Tag Archives: Odinn Orn Hilmarsson

Brainiac Live!

★★★★

Garrick Theatre

Brainiac Live!

Brainiac Live!

Garrick Theatre

Reviewed – 2nd August 2019

★★★★

 

“a fantastic show for young audiences and their families”

 

This show is quite literally, explosive, in both its energy and experiments. It certainly delivers more than the snap, crackle and pop from your morning cereal! Based on the original Sky TV show made by ITV studios, Brainiac Live! is a series of experiments, using everyday situations and making them extraordinary. It is a dazzling display of how exciting science can be. The four ‘Brainiacs’, fronted by ‘Ned’ (Andy Joyce), have an infectious energy, so you can’t help but become engrossed in the action. The whole cast put their all into the production and it was evident that they were truly passionate about experiments.

Audience members enter the theatre that has been transformed into a seemingly abandoned laboratory. Hazard tape, upturned warning cones and old radioactive barrels make you feel as if you have stumbled upon a secret location where exciting and dangerous events are to come. This is echoed in the use of lighting (Glyn Edwards), which uses flashes of light that scan through the audience as if on a helicopter search. There is a sense of peril as often writer and director Andy Joyce, suggests that this is the first time the actors are trying the experiments. This made the already exciting series of spectacles even more gripping.

This is a fantastic show for young audiences and their families. At no point did I feel alienated for being an older audience member – we were welcomed with open arms. Whilst most of the jokes were aimed at children, there were comedic moments for the whole family. An example of this was when ‘Raz’ (Maggie Frazer) tested the audience’s hearing by playing differently pitched noises. This marked the difference between young and ‘more experienced’ ears, who could hear less.

The experiments flowed seamlessly between each other, leaving no moments for audience distraction. The aftermath required stage clean up and this time was cleverly filled by interactive videos on a large projector (Odinn Orn Hilmarsson). These included showing optical illusions, doing number quizzes and explaining why we mishear song lyrics. The content used was modern making the show feel relevant and up to date. However, there was only one female character and one small section making reference to female inventors, which felt a bit clunky and underdeveloped.

Ultimately, the loud bangs, colourful flares and smoke clouds steal the show. Although, this is not its only strength – this show has beauty, and brains. The content is informative too as it teaches about the science behind the experiments. At every point where there are loud noises, a warning is given to cover your ears, making it accessible to more nervous audience members. You simply can’t go wrong with this fun, exciting show that is carried by the sheer energy of the performers.

 

Reviewed by Emily Morris

Photography by Anna Kucera

 


Brainiac Live!

Garrick Theatre until 1st September

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:
Rip It Up – The 60s | ★★★ | February 2019
Bitter Wheat | ★★★★ | June 2019

 

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com

 

Mumburger thespyinthestalls

Mumburger

The Old Red Lion Theatre

Opening Night – 30th June 2017

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

“an exciting, moving, hilarious and provocative piece of theatre”

 

The first thing we hear from Tiffany (Rosie Wyatt) is an extended burp, caused by her opening and downing a can of Diet Coke on stage. It’s a good introduction to this immensely visceral play, in which the playwright, Sarah Kosar, explores the pain that stems from grief and emotional isolation by putting the body centre stage.

The metaphorical is made concrete. It’s a simple, but effective theatrical concept, and is cleverly offset by the striking visual projections behind the action, which serve as a continual reminder of the online world which we all increasingly inhabit.

Photography courtesy of Lidia Crisafulli

Kosar is a playful playwright, both in her willingness to embrace the surreal, and the evident pleasure she takes in the spoken word. There are some wonderful Ortonesque moments – ‘And I just lost my mum. My parent. I’m a half-orphan now’, Tiffany spits at her dad (Andrew Frame) towards the beginning of the show. I also loved the sections of Kate Tempest inspired spoken word in the piece, in which Tiffany tries to make sense of her painful emotional landscape.

Despite the subject matter, the play is also extremely funny, and it’s a testament to both the playwright and the two performers that this reviewer both cried with laughter and was moved to tears within the show’s 75 minute time frame. Andrew Frame’s Hugh was a poignant portrait of a man initially paralysed by the loss of his wife, slowly returning to the world and re-finding his relationship with his daughter.

Witnessing him open up, both physically and vocally, over the course of the play, was a delight. Although I could have done with a little more tonal variation, Rosie Wyatt was convincing too as the neurotic 25 year old Tiffany, weighed down by the loss of her mother, inching towards the light. Tommo Fowler’s able and subtle direction allowed each character to breathe, and the design team (Robbie Butler – lighting; Odinn Orn Hilmarsson – sound; Charlotte Henery – set and costume; Fed – projection) created an arresting visual and aural world.

Mumburger is an exciting, moving, hilarious and provocative piece of theatre. Kosar is clearly a talent to watch.

 

Reviewed by Rebecca Crankshaw

 

Mumburger thespyinthestalls

Mumburger

plays at The Old Red Lion until July 22nd