Bunny! @ Summerhall
Bunny!, Craig Manson's takedown of Scotland's art scene, is a slice of cabaret at its bleeding edge
Welcome to Bunny’s Cabaret, a one-woman show from a hot young starlet. First order of business: ‘Good Morning Edinburgh’, a warm, open-hearted interpolation of Hairspray’s ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ about how much Bunny loves the Fringe. Second: A hellish, viscera-soaked story of murder after murder in Scotland’s art and theatre worlds.
Bunny herself may be the (serial) killer in the story, but in Bunny’s telling the real villain is Scottish arts funding. Her first victim is the artistic director of Theatre 360, the (fictitious) Glasgow troupe sucking up all the grants. From there, the spree becomes yet more unhinged, but also more real. There’s a vivid description of a beef bourguignon-soaked murder of a very-much-alive Hollywood actor. There’s a blood-spattered takedown of a certain globally-famous performance artist. And, most boldly of all, a climactic scene involving the entire staff of Scotland’s public arts funding body.
Craig Manson, the performer under Bunny’s wig, must be one of the only Fringe performers cheeky enough to involve these industry heavyweights (we’ll leave you to find out exactly who’s on the hit list) in such a bloody fantasy. But Manson’s also smart enough to fill it with genuine critique – “can you name another industry where you can have all the talent and skill and not go anywhere?”
The result is a show that may be a little too wrapped up inside the worlds of art and theatre for some, but will pull most along with both its sheer gumption and energy. Manson sells every moment with passion and vigour; despite the repeated mention of a hastily thrown-together show, this is a performance of carefully devised blood, sweat and tears. This is cabaret at its messy, cheeky and bleeding edge.
Bunny!, Summerhall (Anatomy Lecture Theatre), until 30 Aug (not 24), 10.15pm, £18.50/£16