![](https://www.sardinesmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/3295_1534076354.jpg)
Show: Kelty Clippie the Musical
Society: Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Venue: Greenside @ Nicholson Square, Lime Studio
Credits: Kingdom Theatre Company
Type: Sardines
Author: Chris Abbott
Performance Date: 11/08/2018
Kelty Clippie the Musical
Chris Abbott | 12 Aug 2018 08:12am
This was a show with potential, but which also had some assets that were not used to their full potential. The story of the bus conductresses (clippies) of Fife or indeed anywhere else is worth telling, particularly while there are still people around who remember them. And with an experienced actor like Jacqueline Hannan in the title role, it is clear that the gags will be sold beautifully and the performance will be totally convincing.
The show began well with an inventive set showing authentic bus seats, a driver’s wheel at the right angle and a great use of a pull-up advertising screen. The dialogue that followed was lively and interesting, although not delivered with any conviction or volume by Bob Brews as the driver, who is much more at home when singing. Both actors were greatly assisted, however, by the authentic set and costumes, and the cameo appearances of bus passengers worked well.
Unfortunately it all started to unravel as the plot developed into a trip to a club night, at which point all reference to clippies was forgotten and Jacqueline Hannan, the production’s main asset, was sidelined. There was much moving on of tables and chairs as well as a minimal glitter curtain, none of them needed when the club setting could have been indicated by lighting (although a number of lighting cues were missed during the performance). An interminable Bingo game went nowhere and seemed to exist mainly to cover a costume change, and audiences who want to watch a karaoke night can attend any number of local pubs and don’t need to buy a Fringe ticket.
It is good that companies like Kingdom Theatre continue to attend the Fringe, and it was pleasing to see the number of their supporters who had made the journey across the Forth for the first night, but much more attention needs to be paid to developing a coherent script and directing it for a Fringe audience if they are to return in future years.
- : admin
- : 11/08/2018