Ed Fringe 2010: Threshold – Zoo Roxy
Creators: 1929
Reviewer: John Roberts
The Public Reviews Rating: 
I love going to a wedding, to share in someone’s special day, to see someone so happily in love cement their relationship, so it was even more exciting when we are invited to share in the blessing ceremony of Jessica and Maxwell at their country estate an hour from Edinburgh (I would love to tell you where it is, but that would spoil the surprise.) However there are clues given to you in a form of a beautifully shot short film shown in Zoo Roxy prior to boarding the bus, as well as in your Invitation given to you as you board the coach – needless to say you have to listen very closely to the radio being played as you go on your journey.
Threshold is based on the Bluebeard and Rebecca legend – I have to admit not knowing anything about the legend and perhaps this is a good thing, it meant I could engage with what was happening through the piece without trying to find or make connections to the original tale.
This however is no ordinary production, you do not got a singular narrative that you can follow from start to finish, but what you do find out and get from it is mostly up to you and the decisions you make from the start. Threshold is an engaging production, that will not only make you question what is the boundary between performance and reality, but how far will you as a voyeur go before stepping in and saying something at what is playing out in front of you.
This piece packs a real punch and has you laughing one moment, then hitting you hard the next, and that can only be down to one thing, the fantastic ensemble from 1929 who have nailed a style of theatre that only companies like Punchdrunk have managed to pull off. This is a production that has been beautifully constructed and you can only truly appreciate how much work has gone in to the final product by expereincing it for yourself.
A true highlight of my theatre going year and deserves a life outside of Edinburgh – I wish this fledgling company all the success in the world! – OUTSTANDING
Tags: 1929, Edinburgh Fringe 2010, Threshold, Zoo Roxy
5:33 pm on August 20th, 2010
Appropriate that the performance ends without giving the audience any opportunity to applaud the cast, because it is not until you spent an hour journeying back to Edinburgh, putting the jigsaw pieces together with your fellow travellers, that you fully appreciate how special this show is… It’s been 24 hours since I attended, I can’t get it out of my head. An unforgettable fringe experience. Brilliant work, thanks and well done to everyone involved.