ffiffiv'l IPM'JPM theatre comedy dance music books
THEATRE PREVIEW Dream Date
If a complete stranger walks up to you this festival and asks if you’re looking for a date, chances are they're not on the pull. Instead they’re more likely to be members of The Old Spontaneity Shop, an improvisation group who are hitting town with their new show Dream Date. A hybrid blend of Street Mate, Blind Date and Whose Line Is It Anyway, the show brings together two pre-selected members of the public and then acts out what might happen if they
went on a date.
'We interview them about their life now and then find a place where they might conceivably meet,’
The Old Sponteneity Shop open up their loving arms in Dream Date
explains Artistic Director Deborah Frances-White. ’T hey cast themselves from members of the company and
THEATRE/BOOK PREVIEW
Loco Count Lonesome/ Patrick Mc abe
Irish novelist heads for Book Fest with play in tow
ls Pat McCabe obsessed with meat? First there was his 1992 Booker Prize shortlisted novel The Butcher Boy; now there’s Loco County Lonesome, his new play about two butchers reminiscing in a closed-down meat factory. ’It’s not an obsession,’ says McCabe. 'lt's more of a metaphor.’ You’ll also be relieved to hear that there’s no actual slaughtering on stage either, unless you count the country and western soundtrack, which is a big part of the play.
McCabe will also be appearing at the Book Festival, reading from his recently published collection of short stories Mondo Desperado, and discussing his work with fellow author Patrick McGrath. ‘I love McGrath,’ he says. ’l'm a really big fan of his. Normally I hate these things, but this should just be light-hearted conversation.’
(Kirsty Knaggs)
I Loco County Lonesome (Fringe) Assembly Rooms, (Venue 3) 226 2428, 4—28 Aug, 2.50pm, £9/£ 70 (£8/£9),' Patrick McCabe and Patrick McGrath (Book) Charlotte Square Gardens, 624 5050, 72 Aug, 7pm, £6.50 (£4.50).
THEATRE PREVIEW
Still Life
Confessions of an alcoholic still life model
You may not have heard of Henrietta Moraes, but you’ve probably seen her. An artist’s model, she was muse Lo both Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon in the 505 and 605, and
was fully immersed in the
they can stop us at any time and say, “no, I just wouldn't do that".’ At the end of the show, the couple are sent off on a real date at a local restaurant and, in true Cilla style, have to report back the next day to see whether life imitated art.
'1’ he lovely thing about Dream Date is the whole show could just be about the first date, or it could go into marriage, children, divorce,’ says Frances-White. 'lt’s a little bit like playing Nintendo with your love life.’ (Kelly Apter)
I Dream Date (Fringe) The Old Sponteneity Shop, Gilded Balloon (Venue 38) 226 275 7, 4—38 Aug, 7. 75pm, £7 (£6).
Bohemian lifestyle of the Soho drinking set. A chronic alcoholic, she also took Class A drugs, and eventually died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1999. This one-woman play, written and performed (naked) by Sue Long, is based on Moraes' colourful autobiography. Long felt it was important not to include anything in the show which Moraes herself had not publicised, and is convinced she would approve of the finished script. ’l’ve felt very close to her whilst working on the show, and it’s been a very blessed production,’ she says. ’l’ve felt like Henrietta has been on my shoulder
saying "You go on, girl - do a show about me, that’d be great!".' (Kirsty Knaggs)
I Still Life (Fringe) Still Life Productions, Komedia©Southside (Venue 82) 667 2212, 4-27 Aug, 2.20pm, £6 (£4).
KIDS PREVIEW
The Pied Piper
Lock up your wee ones, the piper’s back in town
Spinning myths is something the town of Hamelin is pretty good at. Originating back in 1284, the legend of the Pied Piper continues to fascinate. Liverpool-based theatre company, Kaboodle’s take on events is not only from a child’s perspective but reveals the town’s mayor as the real rat of the story.
'The town became more interesting to me in the way they don’t pay the piper,‘ explains Lee Beagley, founder member of the company. 'Hamelin still to this day is involved in creating a myth over something that was really quite unpleasant.’
The rats, piper and a child-free town play an integral part in the mayor’s dastardly plot to stay in power. ’We took it from a cheeky point of view that adults don’t like children because they're uncontrollable,’ adds Beagley. ’And that anyone who gets rid of kids is actually doing the adults a favour.’
Retaining the roots of fairytale traditions, Kaboodle combines storytelling, music, comedy and live video, making its shows not only accessible to young or new theatre- goers, but putting the story into a more modern context.
(Helen Monaghan)
l The Pied Piper (Fringe) Kaboodle, Komedia©Southside (Venue 82) 667 2272, 4—27 Aug, 2.25pm. £5.50 (£4).
Sue Long gets fruity in Still Life
38 THE ll8T FESIIVAI. GUIDE 3—1 0 Aug 2000