Fringe Review: MIND ER3CTION, Just Up The Stairs at Just The Tonic at The Caves
When people visit the Fringe, they often talk about taking chances on tiny shows in rooms above pubs because sometimes it’s in those tiny rooms that the gold is found. This most certainly is the case of MIND ER3CTION.
With so many one-person plays competing for attention at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a strong title can get you a long way and the title here certainly intrigued us. It doesn’t have too much of a connection to the plot that unfolds, beyond a couple of comedic moments but regardless, this was a thoroughly enjoyable hour. MIND ER3CTION follows Andy on his journey from being conceived all the way through to becoming a mega rich CEO.
The show is created and performed by Andy Needham, who may be known to Fringe regulars as a choreographer and performer at Stamptown. Exactly how Needham came up with this slightly bonkers show, we’ll never know but what is evident is his immense creativity, combining monologues (which are somewhere between drama and stand-up), dance and a clever use of music and sound.
In this show, Needham proves himself an outstanding multidisciplinary performer. He is a fantastic dancer, as one would expect from the choreographer of a Fringe staple show. He is primarily a breakdancer but each move is filled with character. The dance doesn’t just break up the dialogue, it moves the story along. Needham is also incredibly funny. This show is certainly not for the easily offended - Needham takes everything to the absolute limits of what’s acceptable (even more so than The Book of Mormon and Avenue Q!) whilst just staying on the right side of not punching down at anyone. Some of the jokes definitely landed better with the Americans in the small but extremely enthusiastic crowd, but this didn’t detract from our enjoyment of the show. He uses just the right amount of audience participation to make the show feel like a shared experience, whilst never overdoing it and making people feel uncomfortable
MIND ER3CTION certainly proves that Andy Needham deserves to be a star in his own right. He makes a joke in the show about his name being in lights on Broadway after this run - perhaps this doesn’t seem as ridiculous as it’s made out to be. But we also hope it won’t be long before Needham is back entertaining UK audiences again!
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Jacob Bush