THEATRE
THE cosms
Citizens’ Theatre, Glasgow. Until 23 February.
There is Hope. Well there had better be, because i ieel the Citizens' is going to need a good deal oi optimism to survive this post-epithany oiiering. it’s not that it is a poor play, rather that it's not really a play at all; more oi an extended sermon. And, as we are all aware, sermons are not the crowd pullers they were.
Once the initial excitement oi ieeiing that you have gatecrashed a rehearsal has subsided, the lack oi costume and set helps to draw this production down. The story ltsell is not acted, but recited. So rather than simply having an actor say, ‘l am the way, the truth and the light,’ we are given ‘And thence he sayeth, i am the way etc'. Alter a short time you begin to yearn ior one oi the actors to adopt the role oi Jesus and just damn well say the words.
When there is acting involved, it’s generally straight out oi the Frankie Howerd Guide To Theatrical Emotions. We are treated to ‘surprise' (jump backwards and allow bottom iaw to hang open), ‘anger’ (smash hand down on nearest stationary object) and - ‘melancholy' (crouch on the iloor and ieign tears). But no blame can be attributed justly to the actors. They are
PHOTO: JOHN BARR
Mary (Debra Glitch) and Jesus (Alastair Galbraith) in The Gospels.
given such strict coniines in which to work that accentuated emotion is the only way oi breaking out.
0i course, there are positive aspects to the periormance, not least oi which is the language oi the James Vi Bible which this production adheres to so religiously (sorry). The actors, especially Debra Gillett and Patrick Hannaway, do bring a passion to the message which you would be hard pressed to tlnd outside the Wee Frees and there are several moments, surprisingly enough, oi genuine humour. But there is a time and a place for a sermon and mid-week in a theatre is not it. (Philip Parr)
. . “11‘- Poet Edwin Morgan.
Pivot Senior Youth Club, Pivot CE Centre. GlenmanorAve, Moodiesburn Tue 19 Feb. 7.30pm. 7 874941.
Tour continues.
ST ANDREW'S FESTIVAL
The St Andrews Festival runs lrom Thurs tA-Sun 24 Feb and covers all the arts. Listed here are theatre and dance events. See appropriate sections tor other events. More details on 0334 77878.
THURSDAY 14
I Not About Heroes Crawford Ans Centre Studio. 8pm. £2.50. Fifth Column, a university drama group. presents its Edinburgh Fringe production based on the relationship of war poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon.
Double Edge Byre Theatre. Abbey Street. £4.50 (£3). Two short one-woman plays directed by John Hasweli. The first isA Woman Alone by Franca Rame and Dario Fo, the second is Whatever Happened to Betty Lemon by Arnold Wesker.
FRIDAY 15
I Not About Homes Crawford Arts Centre Studio. 10pm. £2.50. See Thurs 14. Double Edge Byre Theatre. Abbey Street.
£4.50(£3). See Thurs 14.
SATURDAY 16
I Not About Heroes Crawford Arts Centre Studio. 2.30pm and 10pm. See Thurs 14. £2.50.
Rapunzel Union Theatre. 3pm and 6pm. £1 .50. Clydebuilt Puppets in the popular Grimm tale.
Double Edge Byte Theatre. Abbey Street. £4.50 (£3). See Thurs l4.
MONDAY 18
I Accidental Death oi an Anarchist Crawford Arts Centre. 10pm. £2.50. Dario Fo's satirical police state farce is performed by St Andrews University Mermaids.
TUEDAY 19
I Accidental Death oi an Anarchist Crawfurd Arts Centre. 10pm. £2.50. See Mon 18.
I The Merchant oi Venice Union Theatre. 7.30pm. £4.50 (£3). Sheffield's Compass Theatre Company comes to Seotland with Shakespeare‘s study of a Jew finding himself a victim of the Christian business establishment. Part of an international tour. the production draws out the physical and epic side to the play.
WEDNESDAY 20
I The Importance of Being Earnest Byre Theatre. £4 (£3). St Andrews University Mermaids in Oscar Wilde’s hilarious comedy of double deceit.
I The Merchant oi Venice Union Theatre. 7.30pm. £4.50 (£3). See Tue I9.
THURSDAY 21
I The Liar's Tale L'nion Theatre. 7 . 30pm. £5. An evening of fantastic tale-telling as the Medieval Tale perform an up-beat adaptation of Pinocchio.
I The Importance oi Being Earnest Byre Theatre. £4 (£3). See Wed 20.
TRA VERSE THEATRE E D l N B U R G H
Sunday 10 February 8.00pm CREATIVE COMEDY from THE FUNNY FARM
THE ALEXANDER SISTERS
"Hilarious, outrageous, incredible" - The Scotsman
' THE
Wed 13 - Sat 16 February 7.30pm VIDEO WOMEN present
THIRTY SOMEHOW with Jenny Eclair, Julie Balloo, Maria Callous "A powerful. hilarious and very black tram-Comedy . . . deservedly enjoys a great reception from the audience." - The List Sunday 17 February 8.00pm CREATIVE COMEDYfrom THE FUNNY FARM
FRED MaeAULAY and JULIE BALLOO
Wed 20 - Sat 23 February 7.30pm MIGHT AND MAIN PRODUCTIONS present
SIN
"Poignunt and humorous, a fine display of mime and mo vement." - The I ruieperulent
BOX OFFICE 031 226 2633I225 1974
Cambridge Theatre Company presents o o ’ Ablga 11 s
g? A (R T. r
18th MARCH - 23rd MARCH
Suburban London - Laurence and Beverly invite a few neighbours around for a s0phisticated evening of drink and Donna Summer.
Cigarettes, gin, olives, Dickens and death all play their part in this hilarious black comedy.
£3.50 - £10.50
FCE 041-332 9000
SUbSIUWCd h) The \(uitish Arts t amid filmihtluti' Rl'fllii'ldl comm! .md (.laxaim “HUNT (mmctl
The List 8 — 21 February 199149