Elf Lyon’s: The Bird Trilogy (Chiffchaff), Pleasance Dome Review
Written by Eloise Thody (Instagram: @eloise.thody) for Theatre and Tonic
Elf Lyons is a powerhouse on stage – combining fierce intellect, commanding physical clowning, and wonderous humour. Her three shows, all named after birds – Swan, Chiffchaff, and Raven are performed in rotation – so you can see her do three different shows during your time at the Fringe.
She won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but that’s the nature of both comedy and clowning. You have to admire her ability to get on stage and present everything you’ve ever thought of taking to the Fringe yourself and rolling it into a one-hour car crash that you can’t take your eyes away from.
Swan is Elf Lyon’s adaptation of Swan Lake performed as a ballet. Raven is her version of Stephen King’s iconic horrors. And Chiffchaff is a semi-musical about the economy. I was booked in for Chiffchaff.
Chiffchaff is a musical / clowning / comedy / verbatim piece about the economy. Stick with me – it’s weird and wacky, but there is a layer of deep sensitivity behind this piece. Lyon’s father is a key part, he is the heart – an economist who has taught his daughter everything he knows, and Lyon’s does a fantastic job of teaching an audience of 174 all about it too.
With the mix of genre - and considering this part of the trilogy is mainly musical – I would say this is the weakest of Lyon’s skills presented on stage. Her physical work was engaging and even hypnotising in moments, and her comedy random and relatable. The documentary/verbatim element was heartwarming and honest – and added a needed reprieve from the pace and hectic energy of the piece. However, the musical elements lacked power and clarity. We see a few musical adaptations, including the iconic hit ‘Downtown’ becoming ‘Downturn’ and a personal favourite of ‘Let’s Get Fiscal’. But I fear as accessible as song may be, it may go over a mainstream audience’s head.
I would have loved to see the other pieces, Swan and Raven, to see how they build on Lyon’s very busy toolbox. And I will be seeking out her next show to do so. You can see ‘Elf Lyons: The Bird Trilogy’ at the King Dome at The Pleasance Dome until the 25th August 2025. But you better catch her before she flies away – tickets are selling very quickly and are sold out until the 19th.
★ ★ ★
