The Not So Fatal Death of Grandpa Fredo

When truth is stranger than fiction, theatre can become mere documentary. Vox Motus discovered the odd story of a Norwegian who had attempted a DIY cryogenic suspension of his grandfather while investigating extended life-spans: a slice of American high weirdness, it weaves its way through contradictory ideas about immigration, freedom and faith. Fridtijoff Fredo, in freezing his beloved grandpa, straddles the divide between backwoods folk hero, bemused idealist and illegal immigrant: his story has inspired an hour of redneck-baiting fun.

Vox Motus' directors, writers and designers Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison are obviously inspired both by the magic of the story and magic tricks. The set, essentially a single box that is rotated, deconstructed, divided and rebuilt to create everything from a rural shed to, eventually, a Norwegian lake complete with boat, is often the star of the show. The cast of four cope admirably with constant character changes - Harry Ward's leap from survivalist to concerned Scottish police officer is brilliant - but are often relegated to stagehands, shifting the box into its latest incarnation.

The big themes that Fredo suggests are often lost in the rambling plot: Fredo himself is an innocent, and the final speech about his faith in science is contradictory and hilarious. Fortunately, the humour, especially in the songs, is broad and keeps the pace quick. Undemanding fun and a display of spectacular design, this farce does find itself in the shadow of its own staging, yet keeps the laughter echoing until the final moments.