Theatre

You probably never met Karl Fredricksson and it’s very unlikely you‘ll meet the likes of him again. The son of a Norwegian sea merchant and a young Welsh woman, he was a cross-dressing performer, a school teacher, an Olympic-level hurdler, a hoarder, a small-a anarchist and inventor of that oh-so popular sport, lady dancing. Even before his death from cancer earlier this year, his daughter Kristin created this one-woman show in celebration of his life well-lived. But following his death in June 'Everything Must Go' has taken on an incredibly moving turn.

As fitting for a Fringe which will surely be remembered as the year of the ramshackle aesthetic, Fredricksson deploys everything piece of chintz imaginable to tell her father's story. An old trampoline, old Super 8 video footage, even giant cardboard cut-outs of the man himself.  As you would expect from a man whose personal motto was 'life is too short for anything but ecstasy’, Karl's life story is a fantastically wild one. But as loveable a character as he is there is dark ambivalence to their relationship which undercuts any schmaltz. She sings a songs that pays tribute to 'the love we will never make’ which makes for slightly uncomfortable listening and it’s unclear whether his 'eccentricity' cloaks any deeper mental health issues.

But beyond all of this Fredricksson Jnr clearly loved her father and anyone watching this can't help but be reminded of the frailty of human life, even those who seem most invincible. Everything must go, including the people we love and this funny, inventive and touching shows reminds us to pay tribute to them while we can. 

'Everything Must Go' played at Augustine's, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.