DANIEL KITSON - Traverse Theatre (Tues 8th August)
Daniel Kitson is a genius.
There, I've said it. I've got that part of the review out first. You have to really as he has returned with yet another fantastic, enthralling, heart warming and thoroughly enjoyable storytelling show this year.
This is the third such Kitson show that we've seen at the Fringe now and you just don't tire of them. I really could sit and listen to his captivating tales all night. Tales which capture the misfits, quirky and outsiders in society but in a heart warming and enrapturing way that makes you wonder if it's not the rest of the world that should fall into these categories, for the characters that he brings so vividly to life on the stage seem so normal to you by the end of the eighty minutes. No-one quite captures the joys, despair and hopes of isolation and loneliness like Kitson does with his work.
This year's tale centres around Henry. It's his last day at work. For 32 years he has stacked and catalogued compilation tapes. Nobody knows why he does it or who employs him, but that's not important. Tapes discarded by spurned lovers and forgotten by complacent husbands and wives. But he has never listened to any of them. Until now, when he receives his very own tape on his very last day. Then there's Millie, the local lollipop lady with a penchant for feeding cakes to birds and allocating people middle names. It's her last day in her job too. Other characters come and go and their tales are intertwined with the tapes as slowly a picture of what is happening builds up.
Kitson's wordplay is a joy to listen to. He makes his characters so real, so vivid, that they're on the stage with him. He's gone with his minimalistic set again, wonderfully lit by just a few lamps and this just adds to the warmth and closeness he makes you feel for the characters. The humour is beautiful, mostly laughing with the characters, seldom at.
If you're only going to see one thing at the Fringe this year, make it this. If you want to see something/someone you haven't seen before, make it this. Or maybe we should just keep it our own little secret.
I've never discarded any of my compilation tapes. I cherish them too much. Henry wouldn't have understood that - until now.
BDH Rating: 5 / 5
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