The Half Moon Shania – Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Zoo Southside

The Half Moon Shania continues at Zoo Southside until 27 August 2018.

Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Uniquely greeted by the gift of a pre-show plectrum (and why not?) this trio of feisty young women ooze charm through their friendly banter as they literally put their audience just where they want them.

As the audience settles, a beautiful a cappella rendition of ‘Feel Like a Woman’ raises the hair on the back of your neck – great vocal blend and wonderfully expressive faces. Then Bam! The tempo, mood and genre switches completely as we are given the plot of where, what, when, who and why.

This is a last shot at fame and success for The G-Stringz – an agent from Diamond Records is coming to see them play in a typical pub gig in 1999. Ketamine Kerry (Cara Baldwin) is wholly unstable; a user and supplier of drugs; punk personified and utterly compelling to watch. Her voice has true depth with an edge to it – indeed all three have strong voices. Jill (Catherine Davies) rocks the naughty blonde look and wields a rather useful guitar. Laura Green as Lola is more of a Shakespeare’s Sister type with almost instinctive technique on bass guitar.

The individuality of each character is clearly marked in their appearance, stance, voice and demeanour. The integration of punk and slam poetry that’s akin to classic blank verse in rhythm and structure keep a stream of variety, making it easy to keep the audience interested and attentive. And it’s funny – laugh-out-loud funny until you find your toes curling.

Shocking themselves at their assumption that the Diamond agent would be male, these fledgling feminists relate their stories that have brought them here today. The style of the piece flips between commentary and being ‘in the moment’; the audience is ever-present, always included.

The narrative explores childhood angst into teenage yearning and on into the maturity that changes perspectives on everything. And underwear – lots of knickers! Punctuated with a fantastic score of pure punk pop, the lyrics and music work perfectly together, filled with energy that stays fresh throughout.

You forget that it’s lunchtime – the whole feeling of a seedy late night mood is captured, shared and celebrated.

The inevitability of the darker side of the reality of being attractive young women in the music industry is observed as if from a distance when Lola’s drink is spiked. The depiction of the sensory overload hits the audience right between the eyes as the feminist issue is analysed one last time: what does feminism look like on an every day level?

The hope is there in supporting each other and to inspire other young women and girls  In no way ‘preachy’, this is a great, joyously dark and witty piece of work. You go, girls! Can’t wait to see more from Burnt Lemon.

Fiona Orr