Performers

It's hard to align Irvine Welsh's talent and clout with this dull and needlessly damp exchange.

Performers

There is little to redeem it following the realisation of heavy disappointment because of the expectation of the proven quality duo of Welsh and frequent collaborator, Dean Cavanagh.

When casting the 1970 film Performance, starring Mick Jagger, the directors wanted real gangsters in the film. Performers sees our two mobsters before the film's shoot has begun with Alf, played by Perry Benson, and Bert, played by George Russo, waiting for an appointment to be considered.

Each plot point is banal and broadly unfunny. Bert's latent homosexuality and sexual proclivities are underplayed as comedic devices. When a production intern shows up at the office rather than a top dog, the ensuing situation is dripping with compelling potential on paper, but even the way in which the intern convinces Alf to get on board by getting him to take his clothes off is executed in a mild way. This conflict leads the criminal pair to part ways but this is less story jeopardy, more a benign tiff.

The writing is not only lacklustre in terms of narrative but the cockney language used is quite exaggerated but also to a point where the audience is unsure it's funny or just silly. It was billed as a comedy about gangsters and with Welsh attached. Exciting. It was a no-brainer for many knowing what place Trainspotting and Filth have in the Scottish fictional canon. Brilliant. But this aimless play fell hard into a dreary set of conversations headed nowhere.


Performers is on every day at the Assembly Rooms at 16:45 until the end of the Fringe. For tickets and more info, visit the Fringe website.

Author

Bhavesh Jadva

Bhavesh Jadva Voice Team

Former Media Editor on Voice and former Arts Award Editor on AAoV covering film, TV, music and comedy.

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