Museum

39658 original

Tina Howe's Museum was first produced in 1976 and, while not exactly obscure, is rarely staged on these shores. Anyone hoping to see it performed at this year's Fringe will have to settle for this interpretation from the Los Angeles Theatre Initiative. I say settle because while the company offers a warm and engaging start to a day of art and culture, it would be dishonest to suggest that a cast of relatively inexperienced school-age thesps is preferable to one comprising seasoned adults.

Performing at the Fringe is obviously an invaluable learning experience for acts of all levels. Travelling abroad and immersing themselves in the Festival is doubtless going to have a profound effect on these teens, and it's nice to think that they may one day return to Howe's work having grown into their roles. In the mean time, the most one can critically say of this show is that it doesn't drop the ball, holding its own in an over-saturated market. This is a competent if ultimately unremarkable take on a challenging, avant garde work delivered by a promising young cast.

Anyone unfamiliar with Howe's work is advised to buy a ticket as seeing it performed is easily superior to experiencing it on the page, though this reading can't help but come off as a little inauthentic and rightly unsure of itself.