FESTIVAL

Bea/8m

VTHEATRE '

THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS

f Nobody could say the producers at Venue

Soixantc Neufare

I irresponsible: each programme for The Best Little Whore/rouse in

Texas comes adhered to a free condom. Good thing. too. for the protagonists in this stomping musical are

: prostitutesandtheir ‘guests'.

The play celebrates healthy sexuality in a manner far from coy.

Leadingthefestivitiesis tender and tough madame Miss Mona. played with guts by Pearl Sinclair. The I entire cast sparkles with infectioust lusty fun. peppered effectively by the maturity of many of the company members. A discrete good ole boy

band accompanies this ( happy raunchy show I replete with knickers of

every conceivable shape. I

mental instability. but to do so in the amatuerish context of a third-rate farce is offensive and

size. and consistency. irresponsible

(Roberta MOCk) i This is unfortunate.

. Th8 393' Lima because the cast Whorehouse In 7”” themselves are excellent.

(Fringe) Quinquereme Productions. The Chicken Ranch (Venue 69) 554 2931 . until 24 Aug. 7.30pm. £5.50 (£4.50).

V THEATRE DRIFTWOOD

When Jacob Cartwright'is visited at his London home by the Polish girl he had a fling with while abroad at a European conference. he resembles a man caught halfway between the knife's edge I of Fatal A [fraction and Brian Rix with his trousers at his ankles. And herein lies the problem with this play: it is one thing to raise seriousissuesofinfidelity. l physical disability and

When the dubious structure of the first half gives way to the more serious preoccupations of the second. each has the opportunity to build on the sketchy stereotypes they have been offered. Gabriella Manson. as the Polish girl Emilia. finds remarkable psychological and emotional range in her character which. in lesser hands. would have been trapped in the sexy but irritating foreign bimbo territory. A classic example of a good cast let down by poor material. (Alan Morrison)

I Driftwood (Fringe) Raw Power’RSAMD. Harry

until 24 Aug. 6pm.£3.50 (£2.50).

Younger Hall (Venue l3).

JIMMY TINGLE

V THEATRE

Jimmy Tingle manages to combine an energetic delivery with a genial pacltlsm - an endearing alternative to the aggressive egocentricity ol other stand ups-to produce a pleasant, warming sensation in an audience which knows it need fear no persecution by the act that It supports.

Tingle is the American Boy pointing with wonder at the mad world; his most urgent political points are

i communicated through intimacy and

; charm, and it is his ambling ‘an i evening by the fireside with’ approach , which forces us to indulge him as be

His slow, relaxed delivery sometimes becomes soporllic, but a change in pace and a sell-deprecating joke quickly returns us to the surrealism of US political life.

No gut busting laughs but a nice chap. (Stephen Chester) Jimmy Tingle (Fringe) Assembly Rooms (Venue 3) 25 Aug, 6pm, £7.50 (£6.50).

frequently struggles with his material.

skFREELDADi?

ON THE

iirFESTIVALitr

Your chance to see some of the best shows in the Festival! You may claim as many different offers as you wish, but only one pair of tickets per voucher, on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS. Please take the whole magazine along with you each time. All offers are subject to availability and the individual management's decision is final.

ENJOY THE SHOW!

rurit RETIIINK

BLACK MIME THEATRE CO.

A pair of tickets to see TOTAL RETHINK on Fri 23 Aug (1.00pm). Tickets should

be picked up from the PLEASANCE BOX OFFICE on the day of the performance.

Up to 4 pairs available.

PAINES PLOUGH

A pair of tickets to see Paines Plough on Fri 23 Aug (2.30pm). Tickets should be picked up on the day of the performance from the PLEASANCE BOX OFFICE. Up to 4 pairs available.

ODD SOCKS THEATRE CO.

A pair of tickets to see NAKED on Fri 23 Aug (5.30pm). Tickets should be picked up at OVERSEAS HOUSE BOX OFFICE on the day of the performance. Up to 4 pairs of tickets available.

ODD SOCKS THEATRE COMPANY

MEN WITHOUT HAIR

A pair of tickets to see RETURN TO THE FIREWORK on Sun 25 Aug. Tickets should be picked up on the day of the performance from the OVERSEAS HOUSE BOX OFFICE. Up to 4 pairs available.

ESSENTIAL MUSIC THEATRE “TA pair of tickets to see CABARET on Fri ' 23 Aug at The Venue. Tickets should be picked up at THE VENUE BOX OFFICE on the day of the performnce. Up to 4 ' “pairs of tickets available.

I

The List 23 - 2‘) August IWI 41