Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017 – REVIEW – Double Feature****

You really only need to look at Andy Gray and Grant Stott (particularly when they are together) to realise that you are already halfway to laughing.  This play Double Feature has each of them dressed in workmens’ overalls apparently dismantling an old cinema – ‘the once regal Regal’.

As Davey and Mikey the pair are old childhood friends reminiscing about the films they enjoyed over the years, from Star Wars to Where Eagles Dare, Braveheart and The Godfather in this new play by Phil Differ.

Each of them comes alive when the script demands that they portray their celluloid heroes from James Bond to Yul Brynner. (We will leave you to guess who’s who!)

Their mimicry of adverts and all the bits and pieces around films during the Kia Ora age is impeccable.

There is a twist in the tail but there are many laughs along the way. With Mr Murray and Mr Staines, the management of the cinema, also forming part of their repertoire (maybe all knew some people like them?) this is a gently unfolding and layered play looking into the past where ‘The future is overrated’.

For Edinburgh audiences it is sometimes difficult to realise that this pair have much more to them than pantomime. For visitors it may be that some of the references to Grant’s favourite football team Hibs and the memories of going to the pictures in the dim and distant past are lost on them, but this would be an hour very well spent at the new Rose Theatre which is absolutely buzzing this Fringe.