One of the great joys of the Fringe is stumbling across interesting and unexpected shows.
Such hidden gems add greatly to the Fringe experience and remind us that among the thousands of shows, there are superb ones which don’t get the audiences they deserve. the Theatrical play Piano Smashers is one such show.
As with many Free Fringe shows, the lack of paid staff at the venues can lead to uncertainty. Am I in the right venue? The right room? Is the show on today? And also that perennial concern; will I be the only person in the audience? Such concerns were soon allayed.
This one man show, written by Rupert Page and Rob Thompson, was a delight. Intriguing, at times strange, but ultimately very moving with a lovely sense of connection with the audience. This piece of theatre deals with a common issue of what to do with items that you inherit. In this case, it is a a precious piano bequeathed to children and the dilemmas they face as to what to do with it. Every generation faces such issues. At times whimsical, the performance also dealt with darker issues, including child abuse and family secrets. The piano, with its many hidden recesses, acting as some form of metaphor.
With tech assistance from his wife, Thompson soon put the audience at ease. As the performance grew in intensity towards the end, he really commanded the stage. Thompson gently persuaded audience members to assist him and this helped to emphasize the communal spirit behind the whole show. This was again emphasized in lovely final section, in which those in the audience were encouraged to think about objects they had inherited – and about the person they had inherited them from. These memories were then shared – a lovely concluding touch.
Thompson praised the support he has received during the run from PBH’s Free Fringe and from the venue CC Blooms. He admitted that without the support of the Free Fringe “we wouldn’t be here”. The stage there was ideal for the show, with good sound and lighting. Piano Smashers has now ended its run but will, in the future, be performed elsewhere. Try and see this poignant, skilfully structured show it if you can. Details of future performances at www.pianosmashers.co.uk/live-show-dates/
