EdFringe Review: Tennis

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Don Gnu’s ‘Tennis’ is the sort of production that keeps my faith in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe alive. Performed and choreographed by Don Gnu Artistic Directors, Jannik Elkær & Kristoffer Louis Andrup Pedersen, the show is inspired by the 1980 Wimbledon Men’s singles Final contested by Messrs. McEnroe and Borg. In their place, Jannik and Louis offer DON McEnroe and Björn GNU.

It’s an altered universe quite far from our own (however one measures such things), where tennis matches are played with invisible balls, movable nets, interpretive dance, the weather, and cyborgs, all set to a progressively more epic synth soundtrack from Alice Carreri.

Further, being non-verbal, ‘Tennis’ is also hugely accessible – no language barriers here. The stylised set sets a scene for epic action, and DON GNU deliver.

Please don’t watch the trailer for ‘Tennis’ — just go. It will continually surprise you, and if you find one of the players sitting beside or hiding behind you, don’t worry, it’s part of the show. If occasionally a scene or idea is milked for just a little too long, in my opinion, I never stopped wondering ‘what’s coming next?’

It’s funny, compelling, and nostalgic without being maudlin. There’s a dark, serious heart to this physical drama, however. It beats harder with every passing minute, the fighters’ spirits battering against each other. Only one can win, right? Or is this sporting contest a dance for two – are they simply competitors, or is the truth a little more complex?

If physical theatre and dance to a philosophical beat disturbs you, worry not, you’re never too far from a first-rate toilet joke. Ultimately I don’t know if DON GNU’s brand of artistic comic dramedy will be for everyone, but that’s fine. Art doesn’t have to please everyone – but in the case of ‘Tennis’ – it pleases me just fine. Indeed it’s unique productions such as this that keep my faith in the Fringe alive.

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