Jonah Non Grata Review
Review by Elise Mc Leod
Jonah Non Grata, playing at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival at the Assembly Rooms, is a cynical and confused look at the state of human beings. The show wanders around seemingly aimlessly and it’s hard to decipher what actor/devisor Simon Kane actually wants to say, apart from that we must suspend our belief that God exists, if that’s our case. At times we’re not quite sure whether he wants to be here with us at all.
But, for certain of the Edinburgh Fringe audience members, the chaos and absurdity of the show strikes a comic chord and brings big laughs. A few songs, well sung, add complexity to the mise en scène. One of the highlights was having the audience give multiple interpretations of a cross drawn on a page … then when Kane leaves the room, the audience continues to read from a choose-your-own-adventure novel he has left to keep us entertained in his absence. It cleverly creates a nice group dynamic.
However certain others elements feel out dated, such as Kane leading us to follow him outside near the end of show.
The real magic and intrigue of this Edinburgh Fringe show, for this audience member, was witnessing the delight that some of the audience expressed in the lack of direction, perhaps mirroring their own existential questions.
I’d recommend Jonah Non Grata is for those who like audience participation, but not for those wanting a sit back, guided theatrical experience.
Jonah Non Grata runs until 24th August (except August 11 and 18) at the Assembly Rooms (Front Room)
Check out this flashback to Ruby’s Edinburgh Fringe ABC report: