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Matthew Sharp In ... Finklestein's Castle

 
Leon Conrad Review by Leon Conrad 5 Published: 17 Aug 2009 Show Dates: 31 Dec 1969-31 Dec 1969

With deliciously ridiculous names, fantastic situations, a plot that would make Ian Fleming grin with delight, and toothpaste taking on a significance you would never credit it with, Matthew Sharp takes his audience on an adventure which includes an operatic aria to die for, superb cello playing which he performs nonchalantly while maintaining casual conversation as easily as you or I would count to three with our eyes closed. The performance is mesmerising and Sharp’s multi-tasking skills extremely impressive.There is a small link between Finklestien’s Castle and Sharp’s other show on the fringe this year, but they are both stand-alone shows and while Johnny’s Midnight Goggles is slightly more virtuosic and polished (he’s been doing it for longer), both can be enjoyed on their own merits. It is telling that while most people’s journeys to the Edinburgh Fringe goes in a ‘bottom-up’ direction, Sharp’s is unique in that his journey seems to have gone in a ‘top-down’ direction. His quality performance is informed by experience as a cellist with the Royal and Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras, playing under great conductors and on cross-disciplinary projects with musicians such as Django Bates. He also has a career as an opera singer, working as a soloist with Opera North, and other companies, giving him the opportunity to work with world-class directors. To have absorbed all this, and fed it back down into his work, and put on a fringe show informed by this kind of input is impressive. To be able to see it for around a tenner, give or take a quid, is a privilege and and a delight. Worth every penny.

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The Blurb:

What dastardly plans has Johnny stumbled upon this time? Can he escape the ominous castle, sinister ghouls and magic toilet? A(nother) thrilling, virtuosic musical adventure story! 'Extraordinary cellist, virile bass-baritone, compelling actor' (Daily Telegraph).