REVIEW: Long Long Long Live, Edinburgh fringe preview at Old Red Lion

‘Highly topical theatre that will leave you laughing and thinking in equal measure’ ★★★★

3 talented actors, 3 thought-provoking narratives and a neat 1 hour run time: LONG LONG LONG LIVE delights with its atypical structure by offering 3 separate plays at 20 minutes apiece. All take place the day of the late Queen’s funeral, with a focus on the widespread difficulties introduced to people’s lives thanks to the ongoing cost of living crisis and the contrast that the opulent public ceremonies had against the deprivation encroaching into our lives.

Each of the plays is a two-hander populated by a mix of the productions 3 performers: Lauren Maxwell, Pili Vergara and Hug Hernandez, each portraying a variety of characters. All are spirited and skilled performers demonstrating real talent, epitomized during a star moment when a seemingly oblivious audience member wandered across the stage right as Maxwell and Vergara were trying to bring to life a flat share between two sisters.

Both maintained admirable composure, and without missing a beat Maxwell seamlessly weaved the incident into the narrative and secured what was probably the best laugh of the night, and there were quite a few others besides. The production benefits greatly by keeping the comedy coming while never over-reaching and losing touch with the very real drama at the heart of each story.

But despite some great messages there is still the feeling of a gap somewhere, a lack of a strong connecting theme. While the overall play successfully highlights how we’ve all been affected by the cost of living crisis nothing conclusively delivers on this and all stories remain entirely separate, holding the play from being something truly great. Additionally, besides some wonderful train audio for the last play, the production felt technically bare. A little more light and sound would suit the high energy of the performers far better.

Regardless this is highly topical theatre that will leave you laughing and thinking in equal measure.

Long Long Long Live showing in The Old Red Lion 2 August 2023, 14th-19th August & 21st-26th August Edinburgh Fringe (Sprout Studio @ Infirmary Street)

Box office: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/long-long-long-live

Written by Thomas Arensen, Christie Peto, Pili Vergara and Hug Hernandez

Directed by Lauren Maxwell, Pili Vergara and Hug Hernandez

Produced by Dangerosity

Reviewed by Harry Conway