Summerhall
Four stars
Bert and Nasi have something to tell us, and they want to make it as clear and simple as possible. This is why this increasingly manic double act take a moment at the start of their new show to explain to the audience exactly what they’re about to do. Which is essentially an extended restaurant routine between a waiter and a customer, with the waiter keeping on pouring into the customer’s wine glass even though it is overflowing. As they do so, alas, the duo manages to tie themselves in semantic knots before they proceed.
Once they get started, they do exactly what they promised with umpteen variations on a theme. Under the directorial guidance of Forced Entertainment’s Tim Etchells, Bert and Nasi become a fantastical living cartoon, taking the everyday absurdities of human behaviour to the limit.
The whirlwind of repetitive action is a hypnotic glimpse into Bertrand Lesca and Nasi Voutsas’ Sisyphean Groundhog Day style construction, which stays wilfully stuck in the groove that never allows its hapless diner to make it to the first course, let alone get to pay the bill. As Bert and Nasi run around in ever decreasing circles, may their wine glasses forever runneth over forever.
Summerhall until 25th August, 11.30am.
The List, August 2024
ends
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