1994 PREVIEW FEATURE
be tackled this year include: why cats can‘t eat dogfood; the science of whisky and the mathematics ofjazz. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra will also be given a lesson in computer- generated music. Fri l—Sat 23.
I Edinburgh Fling The district council's annual community arts and recreation festival is this year subtitled ‘My Town. Your Town — Exploring Edinburgh‘s Communities’. It features community and professional groups performing in venues and parks throughout Edinburgh. Fri 28 Apr—Sat 7 May.
Him
I M. Butterfly On the surface. David Cronenberg may seem an unusual choice of director to bring the acclaimed stageplay to the big screen. Jeremy Irons plays the French diplomat in 60s China who falls in love with a diva he sees in Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly.
I Fearless Architect Jeff Bridges and young mother Rosie Perez surivive a plane crash only to find themselves emotionally and psychologically isolated from the rest of the world but forming a deep spiritual bond with each other. From Peter Weir. the director of Witness and Dead Poets" Society.
Music
I Sound City Glasgow hosts this year’s Sound City. which means lots of gigs by local and national bands, accompanied by extensive media attention. This week‘s the highpoint with several big names playing. some
broadcast by Radio One. Tue 5—Sat 9 at '
various venues. I The Beautiful South Not many songs about buildings and food. but plenty of bittersweet kitchen-sink tales of heartbreak and misunderstanding. Fri 15 at Barrowland.
I Beacon Blue Last year, they raised eyebrows by ‘doing a U2' and going all ironic and tacky. What’s in store this time? Thurs 2I at Magnum Centre. Irvine and Fri 22 at Playhouse Theatre. Edinburgh.
I lsle ot Bute Jazz Festival Like the Girvan Festival in September. this
popular traditional jazz bash is now a well-established event. It usually attracts a lot of bank holiday visitors to Rothesay, and prides itself on its reputation for a friendly atmosphere as well as solid musical fare. Rothesay, Fri 29 April—Mon 2 May.
I Cappella Nova/Scottish Ensemble Premiere of James MacMilIan‘s latest work. Seven Last Words. commissioned by BBC 2 and likely to be scheduled for broadcast during Holy Week with a public performance on Sat 2.
I Scottish Ensemble Alfredo Perl. outstanding Chilean pianist. makes his Scottish debut in Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C major K415. Queen's Hall. Sun l7.
Theatre
I the Big Picnic Bill Bryden returns to the Harland and Woolf shipyard in Govan to create a show possibly even bigger and more spectacular than I990’s The Ship. The story this time is about a Govan regiment in World War One and is performed to a promenade and seated audience with music from The Tams. The six-week run begins in the middle ofthe month.
I Oh What a lovely War Wildcat takes a break from its usual in-house musicals and revives Joan Littlewood‘s classic Great War satire. On tour.
I I Cats The Lloyd Webber treatment of 3 TS. Elliot’s feline poetry. Britain’s longest-running musical. returns to Scotland for a run at the King's Theatre. Glasgow. From Fri 29.
I A Mongrel's Heart Bill Paterson stars in a new adaptation of the Mikail Bulgakov novel about a dog with a human brain at Edinburgh‘s Royal Lyceum. Fri 8—Sat 30.
I Grace in America New play by Antoine O Flatharta produced by the Traverse and running for three weeks before a five-week tour of the Highlands and Islands. Sat 23 Apr—Sun IS May.
Comedy
I Boy ‘Chubby’ Brovrn Like Eddie Izzard. Chubby has risen to mega stardom without the aid of TV. He is unlike Eddie Izzard in all other ways. Edinburgh Playhouse. Thurs l4-Sat l6.
Art I Canvassing the Clyde Stanley
Spencer was obsessed by Glasgow‘s shipyards and painted a series of large oils there during World War Two. Glasgow Art Galleries will show these works as well as 30 drawings on loan
from the Imperial War Museum. Fri 29 Apr—Sun 7 Aug.
I Erro This solo show at the Fruitmarket Gallery will comprise large colourful cartoon-like paintings dealing with three themes; art history, politics and science fiction. The artist. originally from Iceland. uses collages of familiar images and draws parallels between his work and radio; both aim to interpret a fleeting state of society before the facts are lost through collective amnesia. Sat 2 April—Sat 7 May.
Sport
.. .. . . .. .. . I Scottish Grand National The National Hunt season reaches an exciting conclusion with the
competitive steeplechase at Ayr. Scotland's finest course. Sat 16.
Books
I Foreign Parts Janice Galloway (Jonathan Cape) Eagerly awaited second novel from the acclaimed Glaswegian author which follows the fortunes of two women friends driving through France. .
I Prolane Friendship Ilarold Brodkey (Jonathan Cape) This secoan novel is a study of an intense. romantic friendship, from the maverick American author who took decades to write his first. The Rllllllll'(l_\' Soul.
I World Economics John Kenneth Galbraith (Sinclair Stevenson) The 30th book from America‘s leading economist—with-a-conscience traces modem economic history from World War One to today‘s global village.
Festivals
I Maylest The organisers promise a lSOO-seat temporary venue which will be a cornerstone of this year‘s comedy and music programme. featuring what's billed as the UK’s largest season of country and western. John Nixon in China Adams has written a piece specially for the RSNO’s anniversary. and there will be a complete season of choral work. together with new dance anti drama from Cuba, South Africa and Singapore. Theatre highlights include David Kane‘s new comedy Dumbstrut'k for the Tron. Maria Aitken and David Yelland in Snoo Wilson‘s HRH at the Citz and. also at the Citz. the first stage adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting. Fri 29 Apr-Sat 2l May.
I Scottish International Children’s Festival No excuse for bored kids during this entertainment feast in Edinburgh’s lnverleith Park featuring theatre from Scotland (Mr Boom). Sweden and Canada and activities like the ‘Go Monster Mad‘ tent. Sun 22—Sun 29.
Film I New Visions Scotland will again
become the focus for some of the world's most inventive and challenging
l l
film and video works. Now in its second year. this Glasgow-based event combines workshops and talks with varied programmes which include documentaries. animation. and narrative. abstract and experimental shoxts. Mon 4~Fri 8.
Music
I Candy Dulter Last seen in these parts playing with Van Morrison. the saxophonist now leads her own band on her first UK tour. Queen‘s Hall. Edinburgh. Wed 4.
I McCoy Tyner Big Band The final Silk Cut date features arguably the only out and out jazz artist among them. The pianist w ill play solo as well as fronting his big band. Queen's Hall. Edinburgh. Fri '30.
I Kind at Blue Assembly Direct is running the festival over a single weekend this year. and hopes to present a structured programme around a specific theme. Edinburgh. Fri 27-Sun 29.
I 400th Anniversary oi Palestrina Cappella Nova marks 400 years since Palestrina's death with a reconstruction of the music for one of the most splendid occasions of his lifetime. the coronation of Pope Clement VIII in I592. Royal commentator extraordinaire 'l‘om Fleming reads the words. Greyfriars Kirk. Fri 27. Also Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Theatre
I Copacabana The ebullient Gary Wiltnot. last seen here in Me and My Girl. returns to the Edinburgh Playhouse in a new musical written by Barry Manilow based on his own title song. Wed I8 May—Sat l l Jun.
Art
I Raphael A display ofthree masterpieces plus exploratory drawings at the National Gallery. Raphael's techincal skills will also be explored through information gleaned from the works' recent restoration. Thurs 5 May—Sun I()July.
I Lost Property A joint exhibition of Christian Boltanski’s extraordinary work at Tramway and the CCA. The artist will create a new installation using property collected from Scotland‘s buses and trains at Tramway, and will show the Dead Swiss series of, well. photographs ofdead Swiss
people. plus a collection ofarchival
biscuit tins. at the CCA. Fri 29 Apr—Sun I2 June.
I David Mach With a body of work which includes life size tyre submarines and match stick heads. Mach is one of Scotland‘s most widely acclaimed artists. This exhibition at the Glasgow Print Studio will include a range of recent prints and sculptures. Sat 30 Apr—Sat 28 May.
Books
I Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now Maya Angelou (Virago) Angelou's first prose work for seven years ranges in subject from her family to contemporary crime. arguing for ‘spirit and grace . . . wit and courage‘. I Art and lies Jeanette Winterson (Jonathan Cape) New novel from the provocative and innovative author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit.
The List I4—27 January I994 9