Dredging the Fish Pond Gadabout Theatre. Greyjriars Kirk House. until [2 Aug. 5.55pm. New play exploring how someonc's troubled past riiight affect their present.
Dybuk-iment 20 International Theatre Uentorco Rocket Productions. Rocket (0 Royal College of Surgeons. until IX Aug. times vary. The accomplished Arial 'Ihcatrc returns with a German. Polish and lsreali allegory. set at the time of the Rassian pogroms.
Dystopia Wanvick University Drama Society. Tlte (/rulerln'lly. until 2/) Aug. 2.10pm. Physical theatre and masks. looking at loneliness and identity. Successful student production.
East Lost Theatre ( 'ompany. ( underground. until /8 Aug. I..i()pm. Perennial Fringe favourite. Steven Berkoff‘s drama subjects London's Iiast End to a raw and physical urban poetry.
Educating Rita Harland Hamstrings Theatre Company. Tlte Subway. until I 9 Aug. 4.30pm. Willy Russell’s popular two- hander. a modern-day Pygmalion. is a political comedy about class and the education system.
Edward ll The Red Bull Players. The Garage. until I 9Aug. 9.30pm. Christopher Marlowe's tremendous clasical drama about Iidward's love for Piers (iaveston. Edward the Second Bare and Ragged Theatre. Rocket (0‘ Soutlt Bridge Resource Centre. I 3—] 8 Aug. (rpm. As above Elegles for Angels Punks and Raging Queens COMINGs‘oon. ligo and Out. until 26 Aug. 6.30pm. A poignant look at the lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS. performed by Hull University students. Embryonic Dreams .00. Pyromania. Pleasance. until 27 Aug. [1.45pm. Used to your more outdoorsy kind of festival. dance-dUo Pyromania have taken street theatre and tarted it up in a rather special way. Tooled up with a really big TV screen. some amazing luminous string. a fucking massive lighting rig and the bangingest techno this side of Detroit. Zohar Markman and Michal Lehrer know how to make a big beautiful impression.
Looking like nubile extras from Disney computer-flick Tron and performing in close harmony. Pyromania is a pre-club extravaganza. particularly its light stick- twirling finale. lnevitably. btit still rather foolishly. the show-stopping acts of neon magic have been worked into a rather banal love story. The weak film sections are particularly frustrating because all you really want is for the dancing to continue. (Tim Abrahams)
The End of Innocence Gresham 's Youth Theatre, The Garage. until ll Aug. 10.45am. Anti-war drama. Entangled Lives Pleasance Dome. until 27Aug. [2.50pm. A first visit to Edinburgh for this physical theatre company Theatre de L‘Ange Fou.
Equus Nottingham New Theatre. C venue. until 26 Aug. 11.20pm. Peter Shaffer's Fringe favourite about a young man who blinds six horses.
Ergot Bare and Ragged Theatre. Rocket 8" South Bridge Resource Centre. l3—l8 Aug. 3.10pm. High-energy drama.
Euripides’ Trojan Women: A Secular Oratorio Han-ard-ll’estlake School/Rembiko Project. Rocket Q“ S! John 's‘ Hall. until 16 Aug. 2pm. Opera and spoken word combine in this Greek-inspired premiere with live musicians and a choir. EVO’O Tall Dancing Eggs Productions. Rocket @ Kirk O'Field. until 23 Aug. 8pm. Return of the US comedy written and perfomied by Laura Bozanich to capitalise on last year's Fringe success. A few new characters have been added since last year‘s show which picked up three stars in The List.
A really big TV screen, some amazing luminous string and the bangingest techno this side of Detroit
Embryonic Dreams
The EX°Fll98 Practical .Uitgic Theatre. Crowne Plaza Hotel. la’~/SAug, times vary. Scottish comedy about three men. three women and an alien.
Excess Baggage .-‘Injell\co Productions. Diverse Attraetions. U»- 18 Aug. 5. .t’llpm. Angela Hodgsoii writes and performs her own play about the collecting instinct.
The Executive Lear The New Route
Theatre Company. Hill Street Theatre. until 27Aug. 4.05pm. King Lear transferred to the modern-day board room.
Experience the Innocence Critical Stage Company. (it'¢’_\_'ll'lttl'\ Kirk House. until [8 Aug. times vary. William Blake adaptation.
Fairytaleheart ()n() Theatre Company with West Sussex County Youth Theatre. Komedia Roman liagle Lodge. until 25 Aug. 2. [5pm. Philip Ridley play about the power of storytelling.
Falling OffA/l Aboard. Cafe Royal l'ringe
Theatre. until 27Aug. .i. lUpm. A 5() year old looks back in anger in Chris Parker's new play.
Falsettoland 0.... National Student
Theatre Company (.N'STC). Pleasance Home. until 27 Aug. 2.20pm. Fringe productions don't come more wonderful titan William Finn‘s humane musical. which charts the emotional disintegration of a New York family as a man leaves his wife and son for another mart. Accrbic lyrics. soaring melodies. this accomplished production captures the nuances and fragility of contemporary existence.
It is magnificently performed by a young but mature ensemble from Liverpool‘s Institute for Performing Arts with a passion and sensitivity which makes you cheer. Great singers. gutsy actors. ingenious dancers. this company of seven are exceptional. Peter (‘aulfield as a young gay man cut off in his prime gives a sexy. multi- layered performance which belies his age. l'alsettoland makes you believe in the magic of theatre and captures in essence what the Fringe should be all about. You will laugh. ernpathise and weep tears. (John Binnie) Farewel .... Ti'at‘erst’ Theatre. until 25 Aug. times vary. Performed entirely by Aboriginal Canadians (or Canadian Indians. if you‘d be okay referred to as a Scottish Welshman).farelli'l follows the trials and tribulations of the inhabitants of a fictional reserve in Manitoba. The town‘s Chief has run off to gamble their cash in the casinos of Las Vegas. and power struggles and bickering is the result. The style is raw and genuine -as you‘d expect. given that the situation and characters are obviously close to the performer's hearts (one of the main performers is a former Chief himself). That in itself is the greatest strength of the production. which at times feels like something more than pure performance. offering a theatrical experience of rare and memorable sincerity. (()lly Lassman)
The Fatal Englishman The Hole in the Ground Theatre Company. Augustine 's. until
[9Aug. 3.20pm. Three generationin are scarred by the fall of an empire in this adaptation of the Sebastian Faulks novel. The Female Samurai Shoko 1m, (‘a/e Royal Fringe Theatre. until 26 Aug. 5.40pm. Samurai drama set amid the modern world of computer games and global commerce. Ferdydurke .0. Komedia St Stephens“. until l3 Aug. times vary. The commitment and skill employed in this four- man Polish adaptation of banned. absurdist novel. Terdyduke from the 30s cannot be doubted. It has moments of rare beauty. an opening mime where a writer indulgently picks his nose and ears. or in the evocation of countryside as two men discover it when opening a window. Even more sensual is a love scene where only the legs are on display.
L'nfortunately. these moments are few. Too
Foley The Corn Exchange. Traverse Theatre. 14—25 Aug. times vary. Talk about bad timing. Annie Ryan and Michael West‘s baby was born on the day of the opening night of Foley. Why so bad? Because she was the director and he was the playwright. It meant that West didn’t get to see his own award-winning play until the end of the tour.
Lucky they could trust actor Andrew Bennett to get on with it alone. Everyone is full of praise for the actor‘s performance. his voice in particular; not surprising. perhaps. for the man who was the narrator of the film of Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes. I've heard a recording and his delivery is. indeed. a delicious. syrupy burr. ‘the best voice in the business' as one critic said.
‘Bennett is all wrong for it.‘ says West unexpectedly. “He‘s too young and because of his difference. he has to work that bit harder. The character is unpleasant and Bennett is charming. so you‘ve got a nice tension. He’s marvellous.’
The title refers to the central character. George Foley. a southern Irish protestant who finds himself alone and abandoned. the last of a dying breed. ‘It's about rural southern Irish protestants. which is a very different experience from in the north.‘ says West. whose mother is a minister. ‘It was not exactly a siege mentality. more an apathy. a much quieter mode.‘ (Mark Fisher)
Hull. Gateway Theatre. until [4 Aug. lpni. Lively student look at the alienation of modern technology.
The First Chapter of Peter Stanford l.’riiver'.s'it_\' Department ofDrama. Gateway 'Iheatre. until 27Aug. 9.40pm. A messed up boy tries to blame the world for his problems.
First Impressions Dolphin Theatre. ( ' venue. until 26 Aug. Il.45am. Jane Alisten performs and discusses Jane Austen.
First Love British Russian Theatre Project. Rocket (0 Royal College of Surgeons. until I 8 Aug. times vary. Samuel Beckett‘s story about a strange love between a young prostitute and a tramp in a version that has been seen all over the world.
Foley Traverse Theatre. 14-25 Aug. times vary. See preview panel.
Fortress American High School Theatre l'estival. Church Hill Theatre. until ll Aug. times vary. A boy discovers he's adopted and retreats into a world of his own.
Four Dogs and a Bone loo .‘Ilonkeys. Greyfriars Kirk House. until 16 Aug. 6.30pm. John Patrick Shanley‘s sharp- toothed tale of celluloid fame.
Four Little Plays Called Rape Demarco Rocket Productions. Rocket (0‘ Royal College ofSurgeons'. 12—27 Aug. 3.30/mi. Return run for Rank Taxi after success last year with this quartet looking at violation in all its forms.
often the actors strike the one note of anger over and over again. It is a grotesque acting style which is too loud. too unsubtlc. especially when delivered in broken Iinglish. So much of the boyiin humour of farting. burping. face-pulling. balls- grabbing becomes repetitive and wears the audience down. Certainly. it switches us off to the philosophical aspirations of the piece. (John Binnie)
Fern Hill C... .-lssembl\' Rooms. until 27Aug. 3.55pm. Did you know Dylan Thomas wrote about bogics‘.’ This montage of the writer's stories and poems shows there‘s more to Thomas‘ work than the popular (.'mler .llilk Hood.
In this show. (iuy Masterson enthusiastically introduces Us to instantly recognisable characters enjoying a bank holiday at the seaside. Creeping and prancing around the stage be effectively brings the writing to life. evoking smells and tastes in the process. The fluid movement matches the flowing language well. Masterson recounts both funny and poignant events. such as a man preparing for death. This production will appeal to Thomas enthUsiasts and those uninitiated into the Welshman's colourful poetry and prose. Worth the ticket price for the description of Thomas‘ grandad alone. (Kik Reid)
A Few More Lessons in Love Scarborough Project: The University of
9-15 Aug 2001 THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 57