GLADIATRIX: SHE WOLF OF ROME
Princess of pap OO
A nice idea. and one that probably looked good at script stage. but this female gladiator saga too often falls on its own sword. Trying hard to be a Carry on up the Coliseum. the often clunking incest and orgy jokes might have succeeded in making Caligula blush. if it weren't for the fact that they required the comic timing of a Kenneth Williams. or at least an Asterix story.
The ‘match' commentary is fun. and men. certainly. will appreciate the slow- motion spectacle of two women wrestling in warrior-skimpies. but these amusing moments are literally Just snatches of snatches. Thumbs down. Throw “em to the lions! (Jay Richardson) I Pleasance, 556 6550. until 26 Aug, 5.35pm, 28-8 7 O (E 7—£9).
CRAIG HILL
Glossy bitchy banter OOO
The idea of Craig Hill as The People '3 Friend is like the idea of appointing a being- cruel-to-be-kind minister for Scotland. You won't encounter a more practised aim. but watching him stab at the fashion foibles of his audience is akin to watching appreciative fish being shot
28 THE LIST FES
OVER THE RAINBOW Join in boys and girls 000.
The audience gets first prize for the Fringe’s most enthusiastic. The lights go down and a cheer goes up. It’s like being back at school. From then on in, it’s all heckles and good- hearted joining in. Which is just right. After all, joining in is exactly what Rainbow asked us to do for all those years from 1972 to 1992 when it reigned supreme as Thames Television’s flagship feelgood show for the under fives.
And as soon as Geoffrey Hayes hits the stage - for it is he, with his yellow dungarees, vulnerable smile and hair looking still blond beneath the stage lights - the audience willingly retreats to the wide-eyed purity of childhood. We coo at an image of Mr Benn, chortle at Geoffrey’s imitations of Bungle, George and Zippy, and sing along to the Rainbow theme tune.
Herein lies the show’s pathos. For even as the script makes light of it being only a kids’ TV show, it also knows that for this audience, Rainbow is a symbol of our childhood. As far as we’re concerned, the axing of the programme represents the end of innocence. Geoffrey’s demise is our own tragedy. And the man can do no wrong.
Anyone outside the show’s intended demographic would rightly complain that it is way too short, that the script’s gags are uneven, and that Geoffrey never relaxes enough fully to bask in the warmth that the audience has for him. For anyone else it’s a sentimental treat. (Mark Fisher)
I Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, until 26 Aug lnot 7 9), 9pm, {IQ-£77 (EB-£70).
incontinence pants adverts within. the show's theme is just a loose excuse for all Hill's usual bitchy banter on pop stars and celebrities. and he's beginning to coast through the motions. His diva routine continues to eclipse those he mocks. but it's getting too easy. (Jay Richardson) I Assembly Rooms. 226 2428. until 26 Aug (not 78/. 70.30pm, EiO—Eii (29—270).
in a particularly well-lit barrel.
Projecting from magazines the be-kilted comic's mum likes to read. and the horoscopes and
Craig Hill: a man of the people
15—22 Aug 2002
CAMERON BLAIR
Big hair equals big laughs .00
When you see the Cheesy flyer and notice the prospect of a comedian with a guitar a la Richard Digence
your heart sinks. Thank
God this is hipper than that with free-wheeling stand-up interspersed
With comic tunes on the
ol' geetar. Yoda's rendition of 'Run Rabbit' is a
particular highlight. You
get the feeling. at times. he's stretching the material to cover the full hour. but he's a nice New Zealand lad with a fine range of surreal observations ranging from Scooby Doc to food additives. so you can easily forgive him that. And he's got great hair. (Henry NOrthmore)
I Gilded Balloon. 226 2757, until 26 Aug. 77.30pm, $750—$850 (8650—050).
RICH HALL AND MIKE WILMOT Dissing the Yankee politic .000
It'd be enjoyable enough to listen to Lou Reed lookalike Rich Hall do stand-up all night — he c0uld read a phone book cover to cover. throw in a few expletives in his throaty growl and you'd still crease yourself — so it's actually a little disappointing when characters start appearing onstage.
But this actually leads to better things. as Mike Wilmot makes star turns as Barbara Bush and Bush Jnr's Texan friend Barksdale. and Hall reappears as KKK ventriloquist Wayne. and Dr Heimlich. a paranoid scientist who talks us through a side- destrOying presentation of the president's pretzel-choking incident. Exasperated with American foreign policy? This is yOur ticket. iJan F Zeschkyl
I Assembly Rooms. 226 2428, until 26 Aug. 77.45pm, £7 7—872 (870-27 7 ).
JOVANKA STEELE Crass Californian dreaming O. Observational comedy works best when it brings yOur attention to things other than the bleedin' ObVlOUS. Perhaps some proportion of the under- fives have not yet deduced that Americans are overweight and
tupid and that BritiSh people are polite and drink too much but unfonunateiy for Californian comedienne Jovanka Steele. there are no toddlers in the audience tonight.
Crucial insight. imagination and flair sadly lacking. Steele does however bring an exuberant presence to the stage. You can't help but warm to her as she berates her nation and that at least will bring her some fav0ur at the Fringe. tCatherine Bromley}
I Gilded Balloon Tevicr. 226 275 7. until 26 Aug inc: 79,, 70.75007. 57.50—58.56 9656-2750..