The Spectacular Vermin Sisters: Taking Back What’s Ratfully Ours – Just the Tonic ★★

A good title can carry a show a surprisingly long way.The Spectacular Vermin Sisters: Taking Back What’s Ratfully Ours arrives with one of the Fringe’s best. It promises showgirls, rats, sibling rivalry and the sort of feverish cabaret nightmare that feels uniquely suited to a late-night slot in the caves. Opening in 1926, with sister performers preparing for their big moment while rival sisters lurk beneath the floorboards waiting to reclaim the spotlight, the premise positively drips with possibility. The trouble is that possibility remains more interesting than execution. The Gorman Sisters throw themselves at the material with admirable commitment. There is no shortage of energy here. Every joke, gesture and piece of puppetry is delivered at full volume, as though the production is terrified that stillness might allow the audience time to think. The result is a show that constantly moves but rarely gathers momentum. Messiness can be a virtue. Some of the best Fringe comedy…