Fringe review: MYTHOS: RAGNARÖK, Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows

For an older generation, Saturday afternoon World of Sport wrestling was wonderful light relief while waiting for the football scores! For the next generation, WWE wrestling in huge arenas became and still is a spectacle. Both rely on the creation of big characters like Big Daddy and Giant Haystack for the first generation and The Rock and the Undertaker for the next, which provide as a linking narrative between each bout.

Mythos: Ragnarök seeks to create a new format for wrestling with its all action storytelling in a circus tent dressed as some mythical world on the Gap between the lands of Darkness, Light, Fire and Ice. Legend says that if the four worlds ever meet then everything will be destroyed, so when the worlds of Fire and Ice decide to take control of the Gap, all hell breaks loose.

Loki puts the comedy into the comic book character he creates as he responds to the audience and seems to be their encouragement. Odin is a tower of strength scheming to build his position as ruler. Thor is strong of body and weak of mind. The host of other characters are less clearly defined but at least Giant Haystack makes an appearance.

It's the 21st century so the women give as good as they get and size does not always defeat guile and agility. The stage amplifies the noise of the body slams dramatically. As the story develops (well, it does not actually develop much after the set up), the confrontations do become a little repetitive despite some dramatic soundscape and good lighting until the prophecy is fulfilled.

You have to admire the idea and the commitment. They look like they risk real injury every performance, but that is not quite enough to hold attention until the final bows.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Nick Wayne

Mythos: Ragnarök plays at Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 23 August, with further info here.