One of the projections near the end of the Festival's opening light show Bloom. The display starts with war-torn Europe and celebrates how the small seedling that was planted in 1947 has become the gorgeously overflowing garden of art, culture and entertainment that we have today.  It's a lovely show.  I watched it through three times and believe me that's high commendation.

Earlier in the day I enjoyed a recital of Latin American music by a Cuban pianist in St Giles.  It was associated in some way with a campaign that's devoted to sending a decent grand piano to Cuba.  If you'd like to help here's their fundraising page. 

Speaking in Tongues at the Pleasance is two plays, one called The Lies, the other The Truths.  I had mistakenly got the impression that they were two looks at the same events.  They are not but they are linked a little narratively and strongly emotionally.  They both deal with pretence, with love and rejection, with shame.  They are both performed by the same four actors who are magnificent in imparting that truth that came up in a previous post.

They do so at very close quarters.  Their stage is an igloo like inflated tent holding maybe two dozen spectotaors seated on swivel chairs.  The action takes place in and around the audience supplemented from time to time with projections on the side of the igloo.

It's a very good piece of work, surely destined for a four star review in the broadsheets.