When everyone is trying to push the boundaries in their performances at the Fringe it's refreshing to watch simple and beautiful talent carry a show on its own. This one woman show takes us on autobiographical journey looking at Linn Lorkin, a New Zealand native moving to New York to start living her dream. We are then treated to a show filled with anecdotes, monologues and catch jazz style tunes with Lorkin at the piano. It’s her experiences of working as a piano bar lady in New York's jazz and supper clubs that have given her the body of the work she is performing.
She truly shines, moving smoothly between stand up segments to floating behind the piano to deliver another tune that washes over the audience in the way only jazz can. I felt I had left Edinburgh behind to enjoy a smooth journey through someone else's life. It evoked memories of the jazz club greats - Garland and Fitzgerald to name but two. Its style truly was of the legendary late night clubs in New York; Lorkin uses this simple fact to great success in her show.
The only thing that lets it down is perhaps the reference to Lorkin’s French work, which took away from the overall product. That aside, it's a privilege to see performers like Lorkin bring their works to Edinburgh and give the audience a refreshing taste of the best of jazz theatre; this really is a treat at the Space Cabaret so don't miss out.
