A Slacker's Guide to Western Theatre @ Bedlam

Perhaps ironically, A Slacker's Guide to Western Theatre is emblematic of the challenges and strengths of modern theatre. After a terrible opening sequence that manages to get the chronological facts of Greek tragedy wrong - the author seems not to know that the chorus pre-existed the actors - and a pointless race through Shakespeare, the script becomes increasingly confident as it reaches the late twentieth century, concluding with a superb short "Fringe: The Musical" parody.

The deep discomfort with early theatre history, the cheap jibes at obvious targets - Morris dancing doesn't need another kick, and Chekov is only boring when done by student companies - the ahistorical narrative, the relief when the cast are discussing modern work and the superb skits on Pinter and Brecht: this isn't so much a slacker's guide as an object lesson in how theatrical history is viewed by the contemporary practitioner.

There are scenes of sparkling brilliance. The Brecht sequence is hilarious, and would stand alone in cabaret: the finale compiles popular musical numbers and lends them a Fringe relevance. The characterisation of each performer is smart and witty, while the pace is Fringe perfect.

The vision of western theatrical history revealed here is short-sighted, such as when the neo-brutalists of 1990s' UK are given more space than Euripides. This does allow the cast to play to their strengths, and their winning personalities compensate for the passages of shallow understanding.