Beeston Rifles[author-post-rating](1/5 Stars)

Like the characters in this show, I feel as if I’ve been taken hostage and mentally brutalised by Beeston Rifles. And not in a good way. Seeking retribution for her family, Stacey returns to her hometown of Beeston with bloody revenge on her mind.

A young woman appears onstage brandishing a firearm, mistaking volume for nuance she valiantly attempts to engage the audiences’ attention. As many movie villains would do well to remember, the fact that you are holding a gun does not make your monologue interesting in any way. Neither does it mean that your audience or captives won’t try and make a swift escape while you’re pontificating. Yelling does note denote tension. Repetition does not automatically achieve emphasis. And a challenging topic does not a successful dark drama make.

But the biggest fly in this already contaminated ointment is the deeply offensive character of Stacey’s mentally disabled brother. A shrieking stereotype who lollops around the stage clothed in an angel costume with socks and sandals – the obvious signpost for insanity. This demented, dribbling caricature is painfully performed in a very literal sense, the audience find themselves cringing and clutching at themselves in time with this politically incorrect horror show. It is an unconscionable portrayal of the mentally disabled with no redeeming features to speak of.

Not content with essentially ridiculing the world of disability, the show begins to take an unco-ordinated stab at topic of sexual abuse. You know, may as well, just to round off the whole tortured ordeal. To the cast’s credit they do at least attempt to draw some meaning from this incomprehensible play. However, getting blood from a boulder would be an easier task than trying piece together some purpose from this irredeemable and impenetrable script. Profoundly offensive and tiresome beyond measure Beeston Rifles‘ ill-advised shot in the dark goes agonisingly awry.

Beeston Rifles is playing at Underbelly Cowgate as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival until 25 August. For more information and tickets, please see the Edinburgh Fringe Website.