Paul T Davies reviews Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life at Space @ Surgeon's Hall as part of the Edinburgh Fringe.
Photo: Lauren Hamm Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life
Space @ Surgeon's Hall, Edinburgh Fringe
4 Stars
Now a sold out Fringe classic, this is Keith Alessi's personal story of how tomatoes did try and kill him, and how his love of banjos and the playing of them did save his life. It's got to be the most affable show on the Fringe, a respite from the bustle of the Fringe.
Formally a successful CEO of many companies, Keith now shares his experience and all profits go to local charities, he has raised a fortune by doing this show. He is friendly and the story is honest and quite moving. He has a lovely line in self deprivation humour and the banjo playing is pretty damn good, despite what he says!
It's like walking into his living room and sinking into the sofa, it's that friendly. Extra shows have been added, so don't miss out!
Paul is a playwright, director, actor, academic, (he has a PhD from the University of East Anglia), teacher and theatre reviewer! His plays include Living with Luke, (UK tour 2016), Play Something, (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Drayton Arms Theatre, London 2018), , (2019), and now The Miner’s Crow, which won the inaugural Artist’s Pick of the Fringe Award at the first ever Colchester Fringe Festival 2021. In lockdown 2020 he created the audio series Isolation Alan, available on Youtube, and performed online in the Voice Box Festival. He is the founder member of Stage Write, a Colchester based theatre company, and his acting roles include Rupert in How We Love by Annette Brook, first performed at the Vaults Festival 2020 and revived at the Arcola and at Theatre Peckham in 2021. Follow: @stagewrite_
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