REVIEWS OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH - 2008
“Complete with dancing, murder, and music, this show is hugely funny, highly entertaining and … should be one of the essential tickets at the 2008 Fringe. Don’t miss it!”
***** Fresh Air.
“The Accidental Death of an Accordionist, a hilarious ceilidh-cum-farce… hugely amusing in detail… so if you fancy a quick, bracing twirl round the country dance floor after a long day on the Fringe, then this Scottish village hall show par excellence could be just the late-night ticket for you.” **** Joyce MacMillan, The Scotsman.
“I can't think of a play that has used the ceilidh format so successfully since John McGrath's The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil.” Mark Fisher, Northings, Hi-Arts.
“Great fun and some unobtrusively good character-acting make this the best, not to say the only, ceilidh play since The Cheviot.” *** Robert Dawson Scott, The Times.
“International Fringe tourists behold: here lies the quintessential Scottish experience you’ve been questing for. You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, and you’ll laugh again... the charmingly rustic, lo-fi naughtiness of the show will tickle you until it hurts. “ **** Festmag
“A well received good night out combining humorous observation of Highland characters, village life and a fast moving plot in a very entertaining piece of comedy theatre. Good use of theatrical techniques, pacey direction and audience involvement (by ceilidh dancing) deliver exactly what it promises in the publicity material. Excellent use of the venues that it performs in make this remount as successful as its previous tours.” Overall Rating: Excellent
Scottish Arts Council.
“Total immersion theatre of an exceptionally high standard…” “Director Mark Saunders has drawn a superb set of individual performances from his stunning ensemble… A truly superb piece of entertainment which has no great pretensions towards depth, but simply provides a great night out.” The Stage.
See also www.hi-arts.co.uk for Alasdair Satchel’s tour blog.
THE STAGE – Full Review. Accidental Death of an Accordionist Right Lines Productions in Association With Mull Theatre Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride's Total immersion theatre of an exceptionally high standard comes from Right Lines Productions, in this ceilidh murder-mystery set in the local hall of the remote Scottish glen of Glengirnie. Director Mark Saunders has drawn a superb set of individual performances from his stunning ensemble. Before the ceilidh starts, Helen Makay as local girl Lucy is persuading the audience to sign her petition against the Laird's plans to chop down the forest and create time-share chalets. And all through the show, even when the audience take to the floor to Strip the Willow with the cast, there is not one actor who steps out of character. Euan Martin and Dave Smith's set-up is suitably cranky. Plots about the theft of giant onion secrets by Lucy's latest beau Julian (Edward M Corrie) from her ex – gamekeeper Cammy brilliantly played Brian Smith, incomer McCrindle (Alasdair Hawthorn) taking over a local B&B, and differences between bandleader John Angus (Barrie Hunter in full flow) and accordionist Ally the Box (Sandy Brechin). Annie Grace is superb as local busybody Jean Robertson, while Alasdair Satchel presides over the whole with suitable pomposity as the Laird, Sir Alex. A truly superb piece of entertainment which has no great pretensions towards depth, but simply provides a great night out. Review by Thom Dibdin
REVIEWS OF THE FIRST TOUR – 2001.
What the critics said about the inaugural tour of “Accidental Death”: “The red-blooded, rollicking farce that has hit all the right notes on its Highland Tour... simply explodes with raw theatrical energy.” Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman.
“The Highland Festival’s hilarious commission… is gloriously slapstick in its broad outlines, sharply witty in its finely observed details.” Kenny Mathieson, The Herald.
“In the great tradition of “Whisky Galore”… The Accidental Death of an Accordionist is packed with uproarious situations, witty lines and richly comic characters...” The Inverness Courier.
“Simply put, you have to see this show, or you and your laughter muscles might as well die now. This show just has it all…kill whoever necessary to get a ticket!” Margaret Chrystall, Highland News.
"The Accidental Death of an Accordionist" is the Scottish “Mousetrap” – this show should run and run!” Audience member, Glenkinchie.
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