horror

FORGET ABOUT ME

☆☆

Breaking up the magic fan’s usual Fringe schedule with something a bit different, Forget About Me is as much a horror play as it is a magic show. It’s also very funny. As the audience enters the theater space, Dylan Howells stands in a bathtub shrouded in a curtain—the perfect introduction to a show about a ghost in the bathroom. While it may not be as frightening as the more ardent horror fans might prefer, or have as much magic as fans of that art form might like, it’s an interesting blend of the two, helmed by a skilled performer who easily holds the audience’s attention.

Howells uses magic to illustrate his story to often good effect. There was a slightly sloppy moment at the reviewed show when Howells cleared away a few props in front of the audience, visibly snapping a string and challenging the audience’s suspension of disbelief. While the rest of the effects were performed well, when the magic is so sparse such a noticeable imperfection has a greater effect. On the other hand, the effect that Howells uses at the end is cleverly done to highlight and indeed augment the final plot reveal, in a particularly impressive use of magic.

As a mixed genre show, Howells asks for fairly minimal audience interaction. He requests a few pieces of input from the seats and doesn’t bring anyone onstage with him. Howells’s primary interaction is with his tech man and voice performer, and their stage chemistry is a highlight. Both have excellent comedic timing that they use to bring a welcome levity to the show.

While Forget About Me is horror, it’s structured to feel accessible to those who may not be as enthusiastic about being scared. The scary moments are well signposted, making mental preparation easier to do. The final plot twist may be easy to predict, even by viewers who don’t partake often with from the genre, which is perhaps unavoidable given the ubiquity of these tropes in popular culture. However, Howells’s use of magic makes it interesting again.

Howells is an engaging performer and Forget About Me is an interestingly constructed show. It may not be the tidiest blend of magic and horror, but Howells’s charm makes watching it an enjoyable experience. The reviewed show was early in the run and Howells will perhaps benefit from the chance to develop the show over the course of the Fringe. Howells’s creative approach to both magic and horror, not to mention his talent as a performer, makes Forget About Me worth seeing, particularly for fans of both genres.

DAVID ALNWICK: THE DARE WITCH PROJECT

☆☆☆☆☆

David Alnwick has a habit of creating shows that are so unusual that they require a whole new category all to themselves in the Fringe listings. This year he has gone a step further in bringing a live found footage horror show, The Dare Witch Project. Naturally, as a debut, it’s completely unlike any of his previous shows. However, it still feels like a distinctly Alnwick show, it has his trademark perfection at every turn, from the plot to the magic and every step in between.

While The Dare Witch Project doesn’t feel like a typical magic show in any sense of the term, traditional or not, Alnwick is still a magician and uses magic to accentuate the show. The way that magic is used here is particularly creative, it doesn’t just illustrate the story but is an integral part in how it’s told and how the audience experiences it. With so few tricks they need to be perfect, and Alnwick is skilled enough that it’s no surprise they meet that requirement. Alnwick leans more on the cinematic cousins of magical misdirection to drive the show forward.

A Fringe veteran and legend with an especially versatile skill set, Alnwick has tons of fans in Edinburgh, who may not necessarily be fans of horror as a genre. It’s still worth at least considering attending The Dare Witch Project even if you are among them. It has the Alnwick hallmarks of excellence and originality that earned him such support, and Alnwick and the Voodoo Rooms staff helpfully lay out flyers on each chair that are the perfect size to cower behind when it gets too frightening. It’s not every day you get the opportunity to watch a new genre being born, not even at the Fringe.

The Dare Witch Project is an absolute must see for horror fans. It’s not just scary, there’s humor and nostalgia to lighten the mix, and the creative use of magic adds an extra level of interest. For horror fans it will be the perfect show.  For the rest, it’s exceptional enough to still be well worth seeing.