In a post 7-7, post-post 9-11 world there is still a huge state of fear, tension and distrust. If anyone can be evil then how do we know who is and who isn’t? Don’t worry because the government will tell you! Don’t know who to trust? Well then we’ll just shift all the blame onto one or two specific ‘minority’ communities, and then everyone feels better, can breathe a sigh of relief, because as long as you don’t associate with these ‘bad’ people, then your children can sleep safe at night. An age old trick, especially for one Senator McCarthy, who picked his problem with the Commies.

It’s 1952 in the Walt Disney studios and if there’s one thing Walt hates it’s Communists, or more specifically anyone who would set to disrupt his harmony. Egged on by McCarthy, Walt is due to take the stand at the end of the week and denounce any known Communists to the Hollywood blacklist. This is a problem for two of Disney’s long-term script writers, a big problem, as they have a small unknown union, which may not be as unknown as they think. They need to find out who they can trust and fast, but when there’s also a girl involved then that’s when problems escalate.

The iconic House of Mouse, the happiest place on earth, so if Walt’s having problems then the whole world’s surely having problems. Much akin to New York, America, a superpower, with a super-iconic World Trade Centre, so when the problems started there we all knew things were bad. This straight from Off-Broadway production uses McCarthyism and the heightened state of paranoia in that time to parallel life now, much as Arthur Miller once used Salem to parallel the McCarthy trials. Amongst this year’s war stained Fringe offerings, this production stands out by being quirky, offering an interesting story, and yet retaining its underlying politics without laying them on too thick. An economical use of stage space, lighting and comedic sound all add to this capsule performance and draw the audience in. The emotions run high and wild as we tear through denial, fear, distrust and paranoia with many a laugh. For such a weighty topic, this still manages to have you leave feeling light, fluffy and fulfilled.

Pleasance Courtyard, 60 The Pleasance (0131 556 6550)
Preview Aug 2: 15:15 (1hr10mins) £5
Aug 5-11, 14, 16-18, 21-22, 24-25, 28: 15:15 (1hr10mins) £8 (£6.50)
Aug 12-13, 19-20, 26-27: 15:15 (1hr10mins) £9 (£7.50)