By Ron Bingham
Horses! So many horses! Elf introduces herself at the start of the show, then transforms into a series of horses and other characters for the rest of the hour.
We are thrown into a whirlwind of physical comedy, interacting with recordings, the history of horses and humans, and the joys of play acting as a child. There are some moments of audience interaction but although I did not partake, they DID look like a lot of fun (though rather dark). This is definitely not a show for the kids or people who are a bit squeamish, as there is a lot of quite bloody and gruesome miming.
Elf is a bundle of energy who bounds around the stage for the full hour, maintaining the characters, encouraging the audience, hectoring the engineer when they add too much thunder, and keeping us entertained without pause. We get scenes from Troy, World War 1, a children’s pony school, the bottom of a well, a racing track, and her childhood home. Everything fits seamlessly together and there is never a dull moment. I don’t know how Elf felt at the end, but I was exhausted just watching her flit from side to side of the stage.
The show was sold out on Wednesday and I expect will continue to sell out for the rest of the Fringe, as it is brilliant. Sit in the front row, and you might even get to be a bloodthirsty Trojan soldier for a few minutes!
Horses is on at Pleasance Courtyard until August 26