fringe reviews: live last night

Such Stuff As We Are Made Of St Stephens, until August 26. Fringe brochure p66 HHHHH Lia Rodrigues Companhia de Danas is a young Brazilian group whose use of the dance form is revolutionary. In this superb show they draw in their audience with superbly executed moving sculptures, performing nude. It's a beautifully unsettling experience: it might leave you thinking of the human form in a different way, but this company have far grander designs than that. They want to get amongst their audience and change the way they think about absolutely everything.

The political element would seem nave were it not for the beauty of the dancing, the ferocious commitment of the performers and the powerful, martial climax. It is exhilarating to see performers treat their audience with nothing but contempt, but this is a contempt that you really must experience.

Mumu's Mummy Land St Stephens, until August 24. Fringe brochure p65 HHHHYou have to admire the Aurora Nova season at St Stephens for showcasing work that subverts both the aesthetic and social expectations of the chiffon-wearing dance brigade. Daft but superbly inventive, this is a show for those who'd rather get drunk and play records than sip chilled Chardonnay over a nice meal.

Unfortunately - as the empty seats attest - the chiffon-wearers are rather difficult to entice out of the house. But in this case they are missing a show with possibly the best original soundtrack at the Fringe. It begins in a drab world enlivened by light touches of humour from the choreographers Gilles Monnart and Muriel Janssens. There is no narrative, but the company - Belgium's Un Oeuf Is Un Oeuf - continually throws up mini-stories: odd wee tales that pass over you, leaving you feeling enchanted if not entirely captivated.

Alan Francis: Clobbered Gilded Balloon, until August 26. Fringe brochure p29 HHHHH Alcohol and black comedy do not mix easily. Many of Alan Francis's audience turn up a few ales into the evening, expecting that classic accompaniment to beer - stand-up comedy. He seems to have all the right pedigrees - he's even been on telly. But perhaps they should have read further. This show is directed by Anthony Neilson - the man behind this year's disturbing Stitching at the Traverse.

You have to feel for them: a couple of beers, then suddenly they're facing down a series of exuberantly delivered one-to-ones with some of the most sinister and surreal comic creations this side of The League Of Gentlemen. This fine example of writing and performance actually makes you think - so best hold off the boozing till later.

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