Pluck of the Irish

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Trad
Assembly @ George Street

Sisters
Assembly @ George Street

In Trad, Mark Doherty affectionately but trenchantly mocks Ireland's obsession with tradition, its history and literature, while weaving a touching story of parental love and loss. The richness and invention of this piece of absurdist theatre makes it a welcome first Galway Arts Festival production at the Fringe.

The story concerns the aged Thomas and his Da (Peter Gowen and Frankie McCafferty), searching for Thomas's long-lost son. They set out on their eventful journey - skilfully realised in Paul Keegan's design - discussing their family history, the land and those who have gone before them. Da's stories, which clearly gain in every retelling, have been handed down through the generations.

The opening 15 minutes are wonderfully, surreally funny - "Your great-greatgrandmother was the Inter-County champion berrypicker .... the place always smelt of jam" - as befits a play written by a former stand-up comic, and there are cracking lines, with playful echoes of Samuel Beckett, JM Synge and John Banville.

Anna Manahan, the grand dame of Irish theatre, offers a masterclass in understated acting in Sisters, written for her by Declan Hassett. In a clever story of sibling rivalry, Manahan plays Martha and Mary, two unmarried sisters living in retirement together in rural Ireland.

In the first act, drudge Martha describes life with "holy Mary", who went to Dublin to become a schoolteacher, while Martha nursed their dying mother.

In the second act, we hear Mary's story, much the same save for a few crucial details remembered differently. By the end we realise that these were two lives unlived and the sisters' tragedy was in never being able to express love for anyone, and certainly not for each other. Moving, powerful stuff.

Both until 29 August. Information: 0131 226 2428, www.assemblyrooms.com.