 HOLE! has been one of the buzziest, must-see shows of the Fringe, with sell-out crowds flocking night after night and audiences lapping up its outrageous blend of filth, satire, and heart.
The premise is as wild as it sounds: a religious sect in Nebraska wears butt plugs at all times, convinced that a wrathful God will otherwise suck the unplugged up, ass-first, to burn on the face of the sun. The unthinkable part? They’re absolutely right. What follows is an epic love story set in the scorched aftermath of The Great Sucking, when the only survivors are the devout Nebraskans and anyone else who happened to be engaging in a little “butt stuff” at the time. Any attempt to fully describe what comes next would undersell the sheer audacity and inventiveness of this piece. It’s a work that doesn’t just go there and it sprints gleefully past every boundary of taste and convention while somehow never losing sight of its humanity. Beneath the absurdity lies a razor-sharp satire, taking gleeful swipes at religion, repression, and homophobia while also celebrating sexual awakening, queer joy, the practicalities of lube etiquette, and, at its core, the resilience of love and chosen family. The American Sing-Song Company – Jake Brasch and Nadja Leonhard-Hooper – commit completely to the bit. Brasch, perched at the keyboard, steers the musical backbone while Leonhard-Hooper dazzles with ingenious foley work that brings this deranged universe to life. Together, they play the entire confection dead straight, which only heightens the laughter and pathos. The result evokes The Book of Mormon in its gleeful irreverence and musical precision, yet HOLE! is very much its own beast and it is bold, filthy, and unexpectedly tender. It’s theatre that surprises, delights, and ultimately moves, and it’s no surprise that word of mouth has made it one of the most sought-after tickets of the festival. Lee Hutchison 4/5 HOLE! Venue: Belly Button at Underbelly, Cowgate Dates: August 22-24th Time: 2020 Tickets: www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/hole |
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