Our critics’ guide to what’s hot so far

laughter from start to finish.” JOYCE MCMILLAN

JJJJ

Roundabout @ Summerhall (Venue 26)

“Scott Fletcher and Gavin Jon Wright deliver a perfectly balanced pair of performances, with Max at the show’s thoughtful dramatic centre, and Stevie acting as the hyperactive link between his pal and the wider world of the playground and streets, where might is right “

JOYCE MCMILLAN

JJJJ

Traverse Theatre (Venue 15)

“In Polly Frame’s magnificent performance … her story drives and tightens with riveting intensity towards a final confrontation that has us almost literally holding our breaths, before the final exhale. “

JOYCE MCMILLAN tragicomic journey around the NHS of today, never blinking at the failures of a service under pressure, particularly in relation to mental health, but always marvelling at the immense leap of faith and love, and of care for the needs of the ordinary people of Britain, that led to its controversial creation.”

JOYCE MCMILLAN JJJJJ

Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14) “Educational, informative and entertaining, The Birds and the Beats is positively Reithian. Except the BBC’S first director general never did what Busé does with a microphone at the end of the show.”

MARTIN GRAY JJJJJ

Pleasance Dome (Venue 23) “This is comedy that reminds us why we go out to see live shows. And it wears its incredible skill, its labourintensity and its comic genius so lightly one might think it is just a bit of silliness. Everywhere we hear talk about “taking something away” from a Fringe comedy show. What I took away from this one was a sore face, a shortness of breath and the need for fresh underwear.”

KATE COPSTICK