EDINBURGH 2018: Review: DOLLYWOULD, Summerhall

Dollywould came to be because Sh!t Theatre founders Louise and Becca had a fallout. They felt that they couldn't continue to make theatre about the things that they were making. So they decided to make a piece about something that made them happy- Dolly Parton.

Last year, Becca and Louise travelled to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to visit the Dollywood theme park. Dollywould is a combination of facts about Dolly, a holiday photo slideshow from their trip and a comparison between the theme park and the other large Tennessee attraction- the Tennessee Body Farm.

There are some really promising elements to this show. Questions from an interview between Dolly and Barbara Walters flash up on the projector and Becca and Louise sing Dolly's response to each question. The instruments are recorded with a loop pedal (and not, as the couple behind me thought, 'cheating' with a backing track) and replayed throughout the piece.

This particular performance is a bit of a shambles with the pair forgetting lines and descending into giggles and their tech having to prompt them to 'focus!'. Dressed as giant boobs they throw themselves around the stage trying to burst balloons in a segment that definitely outstays its welcome.

For a relatively short piece there seems to be a lot of filler and repetition. There are some clever comparisons to Dolly the sheep but the more often they are brought up the less effect they have. Dollywould is fun in parts but overall it is a messy production that is definitely lacking.

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dollywould

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