Presented by Pat Mylan Productios
Reviewed 23 February 2016
Storytellers who can hold your attention for over an hour, hold conversations with themselves in different voices and tug your emotions are rare. Bryan Burroughs is one such storyteller. The tale of Beowulf is a tale that has been told by spoken word for centuries, part of oral tradition, but it has not been told like this before. The oldest surviving poem in Old English, thought by many to be of great significance, but don’t worry this is not the original version. The setting is not defined but Burroughs makes it feel personal.
Bryan starts his story from the point of view of a baby in the womb about to be born, but the story isn’t about him, it’s about his father and his father’s father. The main device is a father telling stories to his son, and this is the last story he will tell. He uses the allegory of Beowulf’s fight with Grendel and the Dragon to tell his son about fighting the odds and not giving up and the power of sacrifice. It is a powerful story well told which will resonate with all the parents in the audience.
This is an unusual gem, definitely worth taking time out for.
Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Twitter: @Franeds
Rating (out of 5): 4
Venue: German Club Showroom
Season: until 13/3
Duration: 70 mins
Tickets: $23 – $30
Bookings: Book through FringeTix online or at a FringeTix box office (booking fees apply)
http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au
