• Review For Us
    • In London or across the UK
    • at Edinburgh Fringe
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Edinburgh Fringe 2019

Edinburgh Review: Mojo at The Space on The Mile

by Ian Kirkland
August 21, 2019
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Edinburgh Review Mojo at The Space on North Bridge

Edinburgh Review Mojo at The Space on North Bridge

Welcome to the pill-popping, 1958 landscape that is Soho’s Atlantic Club. The club is seedy, raunchy, and a magnet for hush-up deals. Worst of all, however, is the fierce competition to book a certain up-and-coming rock’n’roll star by the name of Silver Johnny. Playing now at the Perth Theatre at theSpace on North Bridge, MOJO revives the 1995 black comedy in an inventive and contemporary fashion.

Following the Ezra’s decapitation, the club’s previous owner and father to the impulsive and psychotic Baby, the club is transferred into Ezra’s competitor’s—and murderer’s—hands: Sam Ross. As tensions boil and threats are made, pandemonium is almost inevitable at the Atlantic Club, and no one is safe from betrayal.

With such an acclaimed script and a history of revivals, it is difficult to reproduce the show to its former glory. This is partly true for Grey Cardinal Studios’ reproduction as well. The show seems rushed at times to fit it into its hour and twenty minute time slot, and has an issue with slowly increasing the tension. Instead of a gradual incline towards the dramatic climax, MOJO seems to rest at an eternal high. 

       

This high-energy, high stress performance is actually quite commendable. From the start, it is visible that the cast works masterfully together. They are a threatening ensemble, as chaotic and dangerous as they are funny. They quip around with each other and fall into drunken stupors. Overall, the cast both conjures the imagined glamour of the era and the decrepit poverty and escapism at the root of club nightlife.

However, although the cast’s quick-witted, energetic performance is enthralling, it is also somewhat one-noted and exhaustive. The show is written in a comedic, fast-paced manner, but that shouldn’t lead to a performance that stays at that level the entire time. There are few intimate and honest moments that aren’t rushed over by playing the moment off as chaos.

You mightalso like

HighTide To Present Five New Productions at Edinburgh, Aldeburgh and Walthamstow

HighTide Reveal Mentors for HighTide Writer’s Group

Laura Donnelly & (L R) Nicola Turner, Nancy Allsop, Lara McDonnell, Sophia Ally The Hills of California (Harold Pinter Theatre) Photo by Mark Douet

First Look: The Hills of California at Harold Pinter Theatre

But, overall, what MOJO lacks in dramatic escalation, it makes up for in character realisation. Each actor is extremely in tune with their character’s backstory, their sense of humour, and how they interact with the cast as a whole or individually. The cast visibly understands the context and importance of MOJO as a story that can be retold throughout time, and astutely shared by them at this year’s Fringe.

Ian Kirkland

Ian Kirkland

Ian (he/they) is a London-based storyteller, editor, and creative strategist with a keen and discerning eye for performance without bounds. He began writing about the performing arts in the auditoriums of high schools across the DMV area through the Cappies young critics program and has taken his love of performance to the Edinburgh Fringe, London's VAULT festival, the West End and beyond.

Related Articles

HighTide To Present Five New Productions at Edinburgh, Aldeburgh and Walthamstow
News

HighTide Reveal Mentors for HighTide Writer’s Group

Laura Donnelly & (L R) Nicola Turner, Nancy Allsop, Lara McDonnell, Sophia Ally The Hills of California (Harold Pinter Theatre) Photo by Mark Douet
First Look

First Look: The Hills of California at Harold Pinter Theatre

Shaun Dooley & Bryan Dick The Hills of California Photo credit Mark Douet
First Look

First Look: The Hills of California at Harold Pinter Theatre in Rehearsal

The Webb Family, The Hills of California photo Oliver Rosser
News

Laura Donnelly, Leanne Best, Ophelia Lovibond and Helena Wilson lead the cast in The Hills of California

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Jesus Christ Superstar cast image supplied by publicist

Jesus Christ Superstar Full Cast and Creative Team Announced at Watermill Theatre

False Accounts images supplied by publicist

False Accounts Premieres in Birmingham with Paid Roles for Emerging Midlands Talent

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly