THE LIST

DIRY

REVEWS

v - g ‘1 ('ormack. shn Sinclair highly r'ltLy y . f y l l charactersandtounfold . impressionistic play by and piper Roddy V y I \H r T’ In \lh in; \i-ycluyd r their relationships asthe .' iero-e.'.- Ct. -. . )liti‘v‘ .. ; .Joe Loss and His r t tc clops lhisis not 1

luxury shared by the dramatist. 'l‘he immediacy of the live performance means that plot and character have to be put across with clarity and economy. The consequence of condensing A Tale of'l'wo ('ities into play format and emphasising its theatricality is that some of these aspects are compromised.

Btit the visual invention

a unity oflighting. design and liltiyc‘lllc‘llt' and the grace with which the tale is told. more than compensate for the occasional lapse in clarity. This is an exciting production that holds the attention right through

Orchestra Plaza Ballroom.

3 FRIDAY 19 8pm. £7. The dancing

highlight ofthc year. A presented by Radio COMEDY try-tic. . I Liz Lochhead and Susie :me “99””? S'".°'el‘s . enfrew I-erry. Midnight. : "39"” RM“ ""“l' r5 (£2.50). See 'l‘hurs is.

‘5 ) . . .. . l (Iii‘HfHL-flféfi“ "'__h_ l ICeIlldh llie sherispm. .UL i teat tsat iLl Ls £35”. \‘v-iththc

when reading her ioems l Monrovians.

""‘l Wm“ “.9” "‘° I Eric Cuthbertson Johnny more than )iistifies her . . . . ' Scobies. (ilasgow ( ross. 1".vening.l‘ree. ' I‘urstenberg liolk l'estiyal. Songs with a bltc. I Dick Broad and Fallen Hero ( iairdner's Arms. 235 l’aislcy Road. nr Kingston Bridge. livening. 1’ree. l-urstenberg Folk Festival. (ireat female

CITIES

Citizens Theatre. Run continues until 10June. You wouldn't expect to hear the lines ‘It wastlie best of times. it was the worst oftimes . with the same self-consciousness with which modern actors deliver things like "l‘o he or not to be . . .‘Stage adaptationsof Dickens may he becoming increasingly common. btit you still don't expect a frissori of audience recognition on hearing his key ‘speeches'. In Philip l’rowse's production of Dickens' 'l'ale oflwo (‘ities it makesperfect sense. The all-iri-one

.‘ recited

popular success. Susie Magtiire is a regularon the Scottish cabaret scene and site and l.ochhead are

"##9##er

(tuned by special guests. lJohn 'Siadwel‘ Sparkes with Jack Dee Reiitrew I'L'll_\ ‘lpiii £5(£2.50). See I litlrs IS.

I Hughes. MacPherson and Redmond Mitchell

’1 lieatre. 10pm. £5

. 9'0. 9‘9 . efiosofiotoeieiéets . . Project!Chicago Street Theater(8—20 May)

choral work by David l‘arishawe

.‘vfonrovians.

IL: 511). Sec 'l-litirs IS I Decadence) ioit 'Iheatre. 11.15pm. L2 .51) Lislllconcs available) Scelhurs 1S.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

IASmall Green Space RS.~\.MI ) Stevenson llall. Spin. Lb ( 1.3 i. See '1 hurs ls

DANCE

ISiobhan Davies and Company the Rtil‘lli .-\iidersoii 'I heatre. ".30pni. £5 ( £2 50). formed last year. l)a\ ies new company performed ‘\\’yoriiing‘ and “White Man Sleeps‘ togreat acclaini in london last

ILindsay John l'hir-d Izye (critic. " 30pm £5 (£2 50) Sec lliurs Its

FILM

I Crazy Love ( ilasgow I'lllli l’heatie 3.30pm. ti. i0prri..\-I5prn. Sec llirirs is

LITERARY EVENTS

IAn Evening With Maya Angelou l’ay ilion llicatie. Spin £5 50 £4.50

(£3 50 £2.50) Best-sellingblack author. whose powerful pertormancesbringatear tothe eye and a upliltto the spirit. appears in (ilasgow for the first time. Her shows in lzdinburgh .in ayssellotit. so runlor‘ your tickets

I Open Circle Poetry Night llillheadl ibiary. 3pm. £1 50at door. l'tlyslll Moigaii. .Iack Withers. .'\ll\t;lll l’atersoii and lint (‘ltitidsley

MUSIC

I CBIIIdtt l lctiry \Vood llall ‘lpm.£5(£2.50). .loliii l'llis and his(‘ountry

singer and a guitarist with a sure touch lead this fine hand.

THEATRE

IAmerican Bagpipes Tramway 'l‘heatre.

7.30pm. £5 (£2.50). See 'l'hurs IS.

I Dr Who Is'ing's'l'heatre. 7.30pm. £5 £7

(£2.50 £3.50). See

‘1’hurs IS.

IThe Lucky Chance RSAMI) New

.-\thenaeum 'I‘heatre. ".30prn. £3.5ll(£2.50).

Sec 'I‘hurs IS.

I Project! ('raw furd 'I'heatre. 7.30pm. £5 (£2.50). Seelhurs IS. I IThe Real World'rrun ; 'l‘heatre. 7.30pm. £5 (£2). 5 Sec Iliur‘s lts‘.

I The Summit 'l‘hird liye (‘entre 7.30pm. £5

(£2 51)).See'l‘hurslts'. IATale DlTwo Cities (‘iti/en's’l‘heatre.

7.30pm. £5 (£1 l‘ree ). See 'l'liurs IS. ITango Varsoviano Mitchell 'l‘heatre. 7pm. £5 (£2.50). See 'l‘hurs IS.

SATURDAY 20

CABARET/ COMEDY

I Liz Lochhead and Susie Maguire Renfrew li‘erry. ; (rpm. £5 (£2.50). See Hi l‘).

I Hughes. MacPherson and Redmond Mitchell ' Theatre. 10pm. £5 (£2.50).See'1’hurs 18. I Decadence 'I‘ron 'l‘heatrc. 11.15pm. £2.50 £3.51) (critics available). See 'l‘hurs IS.

CLASSICAL i MUSIC

IASmall Green Space l RSAMD Stevenson llall. Rpm. £6 (£3). See ’I‘hurs IS.

I African Sanctus (‘ity-

Hall. 7.30pm. £5 (£3).

DANCE

I Siobhan Davies and Company The Robin Anderson 'I‘heatre. 7.30pm. £5 (£2.50). See l’ri 1‘).

I Lindsay John 'l‘hirtl liyc Centre. 7.30pm. £5 (£2.50). See 'l'hurs IR.

FILM

I Duebec Film Conference 'l'ron 'I'heatre. 2.30pm. £1 See Sat (i. l’eiiny 'l‘homson from the Scottish l’roduction l‘und will be present to discuss the relationship between art and nationhood as evidenced by the outpouring of ()uebecois cinema which continues to ptit ()uebec on the international movie map. I Crazy Love ( ilasgow liilrn 'l'heatre. b.30pm. H.45pin. See 'l‘hurs IS.

LITERARY EVENTS

I An Evening With Maya Angelou Pavilion Theatre. Rpm. £5.50 £4.50

(£3.50 £2.50). See I-‘ri 1‘).

MUSIC

I Pierre Benusan a. The Picts Renfrew l'erry . 9pm £5 (£2.50). New Ageish. Romantic externporising guitarist who is a fine player. with Scottish group who join pipesand saxophone to Rod l’atcrson's vocals.

I Labi Sittre (iovan Town Hall. 8pm. £5 (£2.50). Well known in the Seventies. Siffre went itito something of a nosedive until Madness's cover of 'lt .Must Be Love‘ revived interest in the chap. Last year saw him make the charts once again. with ‘Something Inside So Strong'.

I The Fabulous Singletts Renfrew Ferry. Midnight. £5 (£2.50). See 'l'hurs 18.

THEATRE

IAmerican Bagpipes 'l‘ramway 'l'heatre. 2.30pm & 7.30pm. £5 (£2.50). See'l‘hurs 18.

I An Evening With Maya Angelou See Literary livents.

I Dr Who King's'l‘heatre. 2.30pm & 7.30pm. £5— £7 (£2.51) £3.50). See'l'hurs 18.

I The Luclry Chance RSAMD New Athenaeum 'l‘heatre. 2.30pm ck 7.30pm. £3.50 (£2.50).See'l'hurs18.

I Project! ('rawfurd 'I‘heatre. 2.30pm 61' 7.30pm. £5 (£2.50). See Thurs 18.

IThe Real World 'l‘ron 'l'heatre. 7.30pm. £5 (£2). See ‘l‘hurs 18.

I The Summit 'I‘hird liye Centre. 7.30pm. £5 (£2.50).See'l'hurs18.

I A Tale or Two Cities ('itizen's'l'lieatre. 2.30pm ck 7.30pm. £5 (£1 Free). See 'l‘hurs IS.

I Tango Varsoviano Mitchell 'I‘heatre. 2.30pm ck 7pm. £5 (£2.50). See 'l‘hurs lts’.

I Art and Nationhood: Scotland and Quebec 'l‘ron 'l‘heatre. 10.30am. £1. The Iron Theatre concludes its Mayfest ()uebecois season with an all-day conference chaired by Ian lockerbie.

SUNDAY 21 MUSIC

I John Rae Collective 'l'hc Shed. Rpm. £3.50. Best of Scotland's younger modern jazz groups. l’hil Bancroft on tenor and Brian Kellock on keyboards. shine in a high quality outfit.

IJimmy Hutchison. Davey Steele and Guests Babbity Bowster. 8pm. £2.50. l‘ine traditional. unaccompanied song from the former. and a broader

director. designer and adaptor. has treated this novel with the epic sweep ofa Shakesperean tragedy.

The rise of space is one oftlie first things tostrikc you. Actors emerge through strips of black curtain. then surge forward to exit via steps descending sharply into the orchestra pit. l’eoplc appear from beneath trap doors and from behind curtains dragged quickly across the stage as if in a magic trick. And there's an aural space too. As candles flicker. smoke bellows or snow falls. a continual sound track of weather and wildlife adds to the atmosphere.

A Tale of'l‘wo ( 'ities isa visual treat that begins the moment you realise the set design extends not Just into the auditorium. but into the bar and toilets to boot. Back on stage l’rowse draws on Iiuropean theatre styles popularised by the likes of Theatre dc (‘omplicite The large cast mills around like extras in l 1ill Street Blues. moving fluidly across the stage and from scene to scene. An opening masque develops into an absurd and unnatural dance where sing-songy voices become high-pitched and distorted. Later a cartoon

court room singles otit the legalprofessionwithsilly

masks. It is exciting tosee a mainstream theatre in this country having a go at such bold non-naturalistic sty'lisation.

Just as your average Dickens novel bubbles over with character upon

character. so l’rowse

litters the stage with actors. While this adds to the visual appeal. it touches on a problem to

which stage adaptations are frequentlyvulnerable.

A novelist has time and

until its moving conclusion. (Mark l-‘isher ).

3 BATTHEFATHER, RABBIT THE SON

Rough Magic Theatre Company. RSAMD. Run Ended.

1n the middle of an empty stage is a section of carpet. ()n it stand a table and chair made ofindented sin er like something from l’lash ( iordon. ()ver the next hour and a half. actor and writer Donal ()‘Kelly w ill transform the table into a bath ttib. a boat and a useful object to clantber over. hide behind and generally ptisli about. 1 1e does so with such versatility and imagination that you believe he could happily do without even these meager props.

He appears from nowhere perched on the table. nose twitching. burn in the air. ’l'yso precise shadows echo his leporine shape on the curtain behind. This is Rabbit the son. l-rorn thispoint on he takes its through his wild and unpredictable story. One minute he is himself. Rabbit. the owner of a company of'200 lorries. advocating a small-time business philosophy of 'You can't go forward without looking back'. The next minute and in a split second flash he cuts back to the ghost of hisfather. Bat. eccentric and happy-go-lticky and a recurring torment to the hopes and broken memories of his son.

It is a vital performance from first to last. requiring an energy that is staggering to watch. 'I'hat writer and performer can be one and the same

Dance Band. Blair LDouglas and Arthtirs

14'l'hc list 1‘) May - l.Iune 1%“)

I Ceilidh 'l‘he Shed. 8pm. £3.50. With the

approach from ('eolbeg's ' vocalist Steele.

Bearsden Burgh (‘hoir performthismulti-media l

space to introduce ; suggests that lrelarid has a