THEATRE LIST

THE FUNNY FARM 1

Third Eye Centre, Glasgow.

The Funny Farm is a new group of a dozen young Scottish comedians who i have formed a co-operative as a means i of promoting and supporting each other. It is some measure of the venture’s success thatthis performance—the first forwhich they have hired a venue —was sold out well in advance, and was heartily enjoyed by its capacity audience.

The show was competed by a man called Stu whose abrasive Glaswegian ; humour has won him the job of compere on the Tennents Live tours. He also performs satirical rapping songs and a nifty line in dancesteps.

Stuart McDonald appeared next, with his routine oldistilled silliness, in which he produces cardboard letters from a box, each with a different sound effect. His favourite and thus the audience’s— is M, which he savours Iasciviously at frequent intervals. His act is completely original and often very funny, though it is not yet quite slick enough to achieve its lull potential.

Parrot, who followed, has only two props: a gun whose presence is never quite forgotten, and a glass of water. Both are put to use, but for the most part, he simply invites us to share his vision of the absurdity in everything from pop-stars to religion. He is very funny indeed, and should, as they say, go far.

May McCreaddie began with a song g about bigotry, which she followed with a xenophobic diatribe aimed at the English. I'm not entirely convinced that -' the irony was deliberate, but Ms McCreaddie is undeniably a very entertaining performer, and it is to her credit that her material does not trade on femininity, but simply gets on with I

when Michael (iambon did it at the National Theatre recently. The part of Eddie (‘arbone is played by Kenny Ireland in this production. directed by Ian Wooldridge and designed by Kenny Miller.

I SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY CENTRE 117 Nicolson Street.

Can Ye Sew Cushions? Wed 8 Feb. 1.30pm. (‘lyde Unity Theatre in Aileen Ritchie's play. See Touring and Review.

I St BRlDES CENTRE Orwell Terrace. Box Office for this show: 031 2265-425.

The VisilTue 7~Sat 11 Feb. 7.30pm. Theatre de Complicite in Friedrich Durrenmatt‘s play. one of three works they are bringing to Scotland. See Panel. I THEATRE WORKSHOP 34 Hamilton Place. 226 5425. Box Office Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm. Bar. Cafe. [Access2 PPA, R. Facilities: WC. W8. AS. E. G. Help: AA]

Birds of Passage Wed 8—Sai 11 Feb. 8pm. £2.50 (£1 .50). The latest ofTheatre Workshops Performance Projects. which in the past have often been extremely successful. This time over 150 people will be involved in various aspects ofputting

, THE KlLT IS OUR DEMlSE

; amusing, and often rathertedious.

f eight writers. looks at Scotswomen who.

: Ticket Centre. Market Street. [Accessz St. Facilities: E. Help: A. AA].

Poll-Axed! —The Peasants Revolt'I‘ue

i 24—Sun 29 Jan. 7.30pm. £3.50(£2.50).

3 show taking a comic look at the last time a

happened as a result.

making people laugh (or cry, in the case of the tearierkerwhich closed her set).

The final performer, Bruce Morton, is the best known member of the Funny Farm, and his experience (which includes television and the Tron's Christmas show) has enabled him to develop an increasingly professional technique. His nervy, paranoic two-liners with their surreal connotations are by now familiar, but none the less funny for it (Andrew Burnet)(

Tron Theatre, Glasgow.

I’m not quite sure why the Scots sending up Scottishness is often so embarrassing, but I think it has to do with regarding ourselves in the sort of cheap, tartan-printed mirror we expect Americans to buy in Heilan gift shops. It doesn’t really get to grips with what— if anything—makes us unique.

In Faultline Cabaret's The Kilt Is Our Demise, five competent, energetic performers present intelligent, verbally humorous material without sparing expense on props, costumes and a remarkable number of wigs; but the result is seldom more than mildly

One problem is length: some sketches drag interminably. Another is the failure of the cast to establish a real relationship with the audience.But the main drawback is irrelevance. It’s quite possible that the home audience in Inverness responds more favourably to Faultline’s ‘urban teuchters’; down

THEATRE WORKSHOP

34 Hamilton Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH3 SAX

BIRDS OF PASSAGE . . .

'I‘lie forced emigration of'Scots women over two centuries. See oiirhidden history with Edinburgh's biggest show ofl‘)8‘) with over 150 people takiiigpart. Wed Rtli—Sat l lth Feb, 8pm. Tickets {2500:1510 THEATRE DE COMPLICITE presented by Tl IEATRE WORKSHOP .it ST BRll )IE'S CENTRE.

10 Orwell Terrace. Edinburgh with THE VISIT Tues 7—S.it ll Feb, 7.30pm. Tickets [4 (£2.50) and .it TI lEATRE WORKSI lOl’ with .1 double bill AVE MARIA and MY ARMY Tues H-Sat 18 Feb, 7.30pm. Tickets {4 (£2.50)

BOX OFFICE FOR ALL Sl IOWS: Tel 031 2205425

SPRINGING INTO FEBRUARY

Moliere’s corned

LE BOURGEOIS GEN ILHOMME

A vivacious new Scottish translation by Hector MacMillan '13 IANL’ARi-J FEBRUARY

LAST WEEK

Mon-Sat 7.45pm (from £2.50) Matinee 28 January 3.15pm (£3.00)

(031) 229 9697

here perhaps we‘re too cynical. But it

must be significant that the most appealing material was a sketch and song set in Glasgow. And though it can hardly be termed original, the anti-Poll Tax material raised a cheer.

It seems churlish to criticise homegrown performers who are manifestly trying hard to address national issues (the backdrop, for example, depicts a heathery hillside corrupted by chemical plants and military bases), but satire can only succeed by charming its audience, and most of the time this show failed to do that. (Andrew Burnet)

together the production. which. written by

for one reason or another. have been forced to emigrate over the past two centuries.

The Visit Tues7—Sat l 1 Feb. A showby Theatre de (‘omplicite presented by Theatre Workshop at St Brides Centre. See St Brides Centre.

I TRAVERSE THEATRE 112 West Bow. (irassmarket. 226 2633. Box Office Tue—Sat 10am—8pm. Sun (>— I0pm. Bar. Rest. Tickets also available from the

Sunday all seats £2.50. James Poulter. originally a stand-up comic. in a one-man

Poll Tax was introduced I381 and what

Oxygen House: Triple Bill Tue 31 Jan—Sun 5 Feb. 7.30pm. £3.50 (£2.50). Oxygen House. who have run several extremely successful seasons of lunchtime theatre at the Netherbow Theatre. restage three of them for those who like their drama at

The Queen’s Hall Clerk Street Edinburgh

Natural Theatre Company

Double Trouble at Rumcove Sands

Natural Theatre Company’s latest musical extravaganza a mixture of Brian Rix and The Phantom of the Opera Monday 6th & Tuesday 7th March 1989 at 7.30pm Bar & Restaurant open 6.00pm

Monday Night Special - Prizes for best holiday wear (knotted hanky. beachwear, sunglasses, sunhat, Hawaiian shirt)

Tickets: £2.50 (£1 .50 concessions)

Advance tickets from: The Queen’s Hall Box Office, Clerk Street (031 668 2019); Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road (031 228 1155) Mon—Sat10am—5pm

The List 27 January ‘) February 25