Ash Pryce

THE CULT OF ASTAROTH

☆☆☆

The Edinburgh Fringe can offer pretty much anything one might be interested in, but even so, you may be surprised to learn that this includes the opportunity to join a cult. In his show The Cult of Astaroth, magician and cultmaster Ash Pryce presents a compelling argument as to why we should all praise Astaroth.

Those familiar with ceremonial religion will be right at home in the little Banshee Labyrinth room where the cult has their inductions. The show begins with the procession of the elders, played by Liz Dooley and CC Massey, and of the cult’s leader, played by Pryce. Attendees are also presented with prayer books, filled with the various prayers that they will need to recite over the course of the evening. It is unlikely that Cult will attract an audience that is not receptive to playing along with some light fictional demon worship, but if one such person finds their way in, there is no penalty and no public shaming for not joining in prayer.

Through a series of parables with an acolyte of Astaroth, we learn the various tenants of the cult’s belief. What’s more, lest we forget, this show is the creation of of a professional magican, and for each tenant there is a corresponding ritual – which you may also recognize as a magic trick. If considered as a whole a magic show, the effects are in a small proportion to the narrative in general. But if seen as a theatrical performance, they exist to highlight appropriate points and make the experience feel that much more immersive and creative. The tricks are well performed and perfect thematic ties to the message of their respective rituals.

The acting over the course of the show can come across as a bit overly hammy, particularily by Pryce and Dooley, but the performance is so intentionally tounge in cheek that it doesn’t detract from the experience dreadfully. Again, this is a show that is reaching exactly the right audience. Anyone who chooses a demonic cult show at the Edinburgh Fringe is likely already someone up for expirimentality and campiness. If this audience expands, it may behoove the cast to sharpen the script and dramatics, but in its current phase of life the vibe is exactly right.

As we learn at the end of The Cult of Astaroth, the Five Wisdoms we have been taught come from theraputic tools that have been beneficial to Pryce over the course of his personal healing journey. Attendees of the performance receive a program of the show at the end that includes more detailed explanations of these tools and how one might utiilize them to their own psychological benefit. The care put into this project is clear, and this knowledge inspires audiences to return again to watch the entire performance over through a more enlightened lens. Praise Astaroth!

ASH PRYCE: OCCULT

☆☆☆☆

Edinburghers may know Ash Pryce by reputation even if they haven’t seen him personally, as a popular horror performer and magician. In Occult he brings these skills to bear nominally to initiate the audience into his demonic cult, but it’s really more than that. Fans of scary magic may seem to be the target audience, but there’s a lot to enjoy even for those who aren’t usually into that kind of thing. It’s an interesting and well constructed magic show of wide appeal.

The initiation process takes several steps, each with a matching magic effect. The magic is thoughtfully placed and well matched to the steps as Pryce describes them. Fans of magic, and those who have attended a lot of scary magic shows in particular, will probably recognize the structures of most if not all of the effects used. They’re the popular props of this sub-genre and the ones the audience expects to see in this kind of show. An effect that gets the entire audience involved uses tarot cards for mind reading, and spirit boards are successfully demonstrated to prove communication with the Other Side.

The familiarity of the tricks feels like the point; it’s a plus for this particular show. These trappings are a comfort zone for fans of Pryce’s work and sub-genre, which here he uses to help the audience feel safe, rather than frightened—the delicious cheese that hides the real theme. As part of the pleasure of this show is in the discovery of that theme, it would be a shame to reveal it here. The experience of the cheese should be preserved for future audiences. It’s certainly worth experiencing.

At his intimate Fringe venue Pryce is able to get most if not all of the audience involved over the course of the show. Pryce may seem an intimidating figure as he strides around the stage summoning a demon, but he is kind to his participants and helps them feel comfortable when they join in the act. If some of the participants at the reviewed show were slightly unsure of what to do, this is easily put down to variability of being human, and anyway Pryce quickly adjusted.

At the reviewed show of Occult Pryce has a moment out of his stage character at the end, revealing that this is in fact a work in progress and telling the audience a bit about how the show came about. It’s even more impressive for that knowledge. While those who aren’t close friends of Pryce may not have gotten the full backstory from watching the show, the theme and even the more immediate inspiration come through remarkably well. If this is just the WIP the final result should really be something special—no pressure. Fringe audiences are lucky to get this sneak peek.