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Ed Fringe 2016: Le Bossu at Bedlam Theatre

August 6, 2016 by Alex Wood Leave a Comment

Review of: Le Bossu at the Bedlam Theatre
Produced by:
WithWings
Price:
Varies

Reviewed by: Alex Wood
Rating:
4
On August 6, 2016
Last modified:August 6, 2016

Summary:

Le Bossu is a wonderful theatrical experience and a testament to a vibrant Fringe culture - Bedlam’s stellar programme has succeeded once again.

More Details

WithWings certainly ruffled a few feathers with their storming 2014 run of The Duck Pond at Bedlam. This year they’re back with another musically embellished, physically nuanced interpretation of one of France’s greatest stories – the bellringer of Notre Damme, as penned by Victor Hugo. Disney’s out of the window here – withWings have forged a thriving, gripping story that, while emotionally and politically pertinent, bears all the hallmarks of being a rompingly good time. 

A large factor in this is the stellar musical efforts from the entire cast – oscillating between a variety of instruments and vocal arrangements. These interludes did more than simply establish a tonal setting, they also drove the narrative forward and dissected the mental anxieties of characters – particularly a superbly stoic performance by the actor portraying Claude Frollo. The absence of a cast list online seems somewhat irrelevant – the company operated with such instinctive cohesiveness that the performance skipped along with a graceful elegance and polished finish. 

The set was a hulking behemoth of a creation – full of organ pipes and rope based swings. It was a marvellously ominous construction, full of little touches and neat tricks. The design in general was equally innovative – particularly the use of bellows and their extravagant subplot. At times this through the pacing slightly – Esmerelda’s first liberation by Quasimodo happening with an abrupt lack of tension, while the death of a pigeon is left explored for a far greater length of time during the 65 minute show.

Le-Bossu-Banner

One of the greatest touches was the emphasis (though never hamfisted mind) placed on Esmeralda – a notably foreign woman, here shown to be conflated with sexual seduction and moral decay. It’s a bold and modern theme to play upon, and one that succeeds with the requisite strength – a didactic echo through time as well as a clear signal of story-telling prowess.

Harbouring a somewhat left field love for the recent (‘recent’) French musical based on the novel, seeing the show turned into a punchy one hour was an exciting treat. WithWings have digested and dissected Hugo’s text, still maintaining (and often building upon) the thematic elements present while also injected a trademark sense of fun and theatrical revelry. Le Bossu is a wonderful theatrical experience and a testament to a vibrant Fringe culture – Bedlam’s stellar programme has succeeded once again.

Author: Alex WoodAlex is the former reviews editor at Theatre Bubble, but since changing position now contributes occasionally. He has been writing reviews for a number of years, as well as seeing his own shows performed. He has produced and marketed a number of performances at venues in London, Oxford, Edinburgh, including the world premiere of Philip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke.

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  • Alex Wood
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  • August 6th, 2016
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