Elizabeth Roddick kicks off with a PowerPoint presentation of life-affirming quotes, before launching into her talk. It feels more motivational speech than something from the Fringe Guide’s Theatre section (where it is listed).

Biological age, she says, is measured in a wide range of ways - which is a pity, as it makes it hard to prove the effects that following her teaching could have. She relates the dramatic turning-point moment in her life, which happened during a massage in Fiji. It’s hard not to feel that anyone who can afford to pop to Fiji for a beach massage is going to find it easier to look after their health and age than some. Her key points are simple – oxygen, water, diet, exercise, avoid toxins.

For oxygen, Elizabeth Roddick makes the audience massage each other's shoulders, then neatly twists that this was about laughter. She also recommends singing and aerobic exercise. Water appears to be able to cure almost anything, but the diet tips are nothing new. She has a fabulous picture of the energy in broccoli, then says that one wouldn’t get that from a burger - why not show it? One major diet point is the acid / alkali balance, a useful illustration of the reason to eat healthily. Given that those attending were presumably attracted by the title, they will probably already know that they should eat healthily - and may already do so. What’s needed is more detail on why. For example, exactly what do fizzy drinks do?

Elizabeth Roddick's other diet tip is nutritional supplements. She shows statistics on the difficulty of getting enough vitamins, minerals and everything else just through even the healthiest diet. But she doesn’t really cover what one needs, and how one would know which to take. There’s little new to say about exercise, but she does have a specific recommendation of a rebounder – a sort of mini-trampoline to take the pressure off the joints. The 'Don’t smoke or drink too much' bit is old news, but the other toxins she's concerned about are more of a worry – those one put on one's skin, such as creams, mascara, and contact with household cleaning products. To detox, drink water, get exercise. Or take a hair brush to the skin pre-showering. Or go for a 'lymphatic massage'.

She runs out of time to cover relationships, and suggests buying the book, but she does also cover stress. For a change, this isn’t just about reducing it – there is good stress, she says, for humans to function at their best. But the body needs time to recover, so she suggests avoiding relentless stress, and changing one's reaction to stressful situations. Finally, the mind matters too – the young at heart look young.

Anti-Ageing Look Better Feel Better Live Better sounds intriguing, and the show does exactly what it says – gives a bunch of ways to try and stay looking and feeling young. But those who liked the title probably know a lot of it already, and the show lacks a helpful 'I can do that!' tip, or an 'Ah yes' moment of anything really new and original.

Cast Credits: Performer - Elizabeth Roddick.

Company Credits: Writer/Director/Producer - Elizabeth Roddick. Based on ideas from Anthony Robbins. Technical - Geoff Loveday. http://www.newlifehealthcare.co.uk

END

(c) Gill Smith 2007

reviewed Sunday 5 August 07 / The Green Room

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008