Adelaide Fringe: Summer Of Blood

There is a quirky modern edge to this piece; the snappy writing by Robert Armstrong sitting somewhere between melodrama and black comedy.

Basically, it’s about a horror movie is in the making. Everyone is on edge and wanting a bit of the action. It’s all a tad silly… and that is the strength in Blancmange Productions’ Adelaide Fringe show.

The actor who has been dumped from his latest gig returns home dejected, intent on more and better. The producer is after the big bucks. The writer wants to stay true to his craft. The want-to-be starlet is craving celebrity and getting all the guys into the sack to find it. And the sister of the writer is just there and causing havoc. Yep, loads of stereotypes re: the theatre and film world… and we recognize all of them, making this one hour and one-act piece easy, light and often funny.

While there is not much terribly ground-breaking in this youthful show – the recognizable characters and tight direction by Stephen Carnell, and the good performances sees it power along nicely.

The actors all do a terrific job; the dumb blonde mistress-actress (who is not as dumb as she looks) and the sleazy producer are standouts. (I can’t name them as there was no program offered. Note: not a real good idea for promotion of artists and show at Australia’s biggest Fringe Festival).

So much about the here and now is related to fame and making your mark in some way, and Summer of Blood reflects this with a neat and witty style.

There’s an excellent twist in the end (and plenty of expected blood); and it is this well-done conclusion that knocks the points up for this show – big time. It all comes at just the right moment and is executed by the entire team in just the right way. It’s a nice surprise… and in some ways so is this bloody play at The Bakehouse Theatre.