• 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
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
  • 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
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Edinburgh Fringe 2017

Edinburgh Review: Pike St. at Summerhall

by Greg Stewart
August 14, 2017
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Pike St Review Edinburgh Fringe

Pike St Review Edinburgh Fringe

Five Star Review from Theatre Weekly

The title doesn’t give many clues to the plot of this particular play, which can be seen at Summerhall’s fantastic Roundabout venue.  It’s more of an address than a title, but that’s deliberate, for Pike St. is a real street in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where in the shadow of the Manhattan bridge, Nilaja Sun’s play about family values and neighbourhood comradery, is set.

The central character is Evelyn, there is a hurricane approaching and she can’t get her severely disabled daughter out of the apartment to the safety of a shelter.  As she does everything she can to keep the electricity flowing to a dialysis machine and a respirator, a whole host of colourful characters pass in and out of the apartment and beyond.  Each one of them brings a new layer to the story, and as the plot builds up it becomes more and more intricate, the story alone is fascinating enough to make the play a success, but then there’s the performer.

       

Alone on the stage, Nilaja Sun plays every one of Pike St.’s characters.  From the disabled daughter to the decorated war hero, Sun crafts a distinct identity for each one of them as they interact with each other.  It has to be one of the most complex and daring performances I’ve ever seen.  The voices, the physicality’s all add up to be different people but still Sun is alone with only a small stool for company.  The performance is so expressive, it is funny and beautifully tender all at once, you will be mesmerised by the skill of this extraordinary performance.

By the end, I had lost it.  Tears ran freely down my cheeks as the story reached its climax.  Pike St. is far and away one of the best pieces of drama I’ve seen at Edinburgh Fringe. Nilaja Sun is one incredibly talented individual, not only the writer of this multifarious play, but a lone, affecting, voice audiences will not readily forget.

You mightalso like

Troubled credit Rich Lakos

Edinburgh Fringe Preview: Troubled at Summerhall (Anatomy Lecture Theatre)

Pickled Republic Ruxy Cantir Credit Andy Catlin

Edinburgh Fringe Preview: Pickled Republic at Summerhall (Anatomy Lecture Theatre)

Greg Stewart

Greg Stewart

Greg is an award-winning writer with a huge passion for theatre. He has appeared on stage, as well as having directed several plays in his native Scotland. Greg is the founder and editor of Theatre Weekly

Related Articles

Troubled credit Rich Lakos
Edinburgh Fringe 2025

Edinburgh Fringe Preview: Troubled at Summerhall (Anatomy Lecture Theatre)

Pickled Republic Ruxy Cantir Credit Andy Catlin
Edinburgh Fringe 2025

Edinburgh Fringe Preview: Pickled Republic at Summerhall (Anatomy Lecture Theatre)

No Apologies image credit Matt Crockett
Edinburgh Fringe 2025

Edinburgh Fringe Preview: No Apologies at Summerhall (Anatomy Lecture Theatre)

Auntie Empire EdFringe 25 Credit Brian Hartley (Still Motion Arts)
Edinburgh Fringe 2025

Edinburgh Fringe Preview: Auntie Empire at Summerhall (The Dissection Room)

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

Whisper Walk Alley Scott

Edinburgh Fringe Preview: Whisper Walk at Assembly George Square Studios

That Bastard Puccini cast images supplied by publicist

Cast Announced for That Bastard, Puccini! at Park Theatre

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly