Search

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

Any Objections?

 
Victor Black Review by Victor Black 3 Published: 24 Aug 2025 C ARTS | C venues | C aquila Show Dates: 3 Aug 2025-24 Aug 2025

Finding a USP at the Fringe is haaard. No matter how original your brand, there will almost always be a couple of other shows queuing up to nab half your audience. But if you came to Scotland this year with your heart set on seeing a comedy harpist, you were destined to stumble across Scarlett Smith – and destined to love her.

Expect to find a smile transfixed to your face for the full hour

From the moment she stepped out on stage in her endearing pyjama-like boiler suit, welcoming the room into her intimate world, she captivated. This only grew once she took to her equally striking harp, deftly tapping away at a sound effects box with her feet as she launched into an opening of The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights.

Smith more than earns her label of “electroacoustic harpist”, weaving in and out of genres and moods as she takes the audience on a whirlwind journey through pop and classical snippets in between anecdotes and observations. Her script is well written, striking a neat balance between music and speech, and her character is infectious and engaging – though the delivery of some lines felt a little rehearsed. Her persona leans more towards theatrical character than the relaxed, polished raconteur of most comedians, and it feels as though this is what she is striving toward. With a year on the standup circuit to sharpen her skills, Smith’s show could very well be pushing for media attention in future Fringes.

The songs are perfectly chosen for fun and flair: snippets of the Jurassic Park theme, two Taylor Swift numbers (coincidentally, this reviewer’s favourite and least favourite), and a couple of earworms that will have audiences humming down the Royal Mile for days. There were a handful of big laughs, but more than anything expect to find a smile transfixed to your face for the full hour, from the saucier material through to the highbrow voting game, and capped off with the best burp I’ve ever heard from a performer.

Related to this article:

Location:

Performances

The Blurb:

Scarlett Smith is an electroacoustic harpist and comedian. Tired of the harp's demure, classical reputation, Scarlett’s debut solo show Any Objections? defies traditional stereotyping. Instead, audiences are taken on a surreal quest to prove this unwieldy, celestial instrument has a place far beyond the orchestra pit. Blending live looping covers of popular songs, self-produced indie-pop jingles and fast-paced punchlines, the show is a playful celebration of creativity and harp innovation. Expect wedding industry musings, a fateful boat trip and an interactive gameshow in this whimsical world where chaos meets creativity.