Edinburgh can be a lonely place in August, as I found out turning up as the solitary audience member for Masses Man at C aquila. Dogged by technical problems and based around a difficult script, excellent performances and a subtly elegant use of physical theatre managed to create an absorbing production against the odds.Masses Man is an adaptation of Ernst Toller's 1921 play of the same name. It deals with revolution and loyalty, the many against the few, and new regimes morphing into the old they overthrew. The script was dense, sometimes to the point of feeling slightly hollow, which wasn't helped by the predictable use of clips of riots and factory workers projected onto the black walls.Then to the big problem with this play at its fifth day at the Fringe. Technical problems occurred throughout, ranging from lighting problems to a rogue projector illuminating the stage with the Acer logo. After starting nearly 15 minutes late, these issues threatened to completely undermine the production and it is hard for an audience member to suspend their disbelief in an already difficult play when such obvious technical flaws are present.The production was rescued by three stunning performances. Playing to an audience of one is a near-impossible task, but between the technical distractions I was drawn deeply into the characters as they melded from one scene to another. Coupled with a discrete and beautiful use of physicality which never fell into the trap of feeling convoluted or forced, this could have been a really strong production.I really hope the technical issues get sorted out. For this far into an Edinburgh run they were unforgivable and threatened to completely ruin the production. The performers deserved better as they gave their all to their single audience member and it would be a shame for technical problems to stop this show getting the audience it deserves.
