festival
8"“ - 109'"
Fine
Paul Trainer’s tly-on-the-wall monologue Fine explores the welter ot emotions experienced by a woman named Christine (played by Bowen Calder) who suspects her lover ot playing away trom home. Dividing her days between working long hours to support her errant man and waiting tor him to come home, she contides only in her teddy bear.
Based on the writer’s personal experience at being screwed over in relationships, Fine takes the audience on a dramatic rollercoaster ot humour, sadness and despair. Most ot Trainer’s previous monologues have come from his own gay perspective, but as the play’s director, Edinburgh-based Peter Napier points out: ‘Fine deals with “women’s issues”, looking at why women like Christine put up with so
THEATRE PREVIEW
much trom their men-tolk.
‘Christine starts ott very depremd, but is ultimately torced to contront these issues and resolves them in a violent and startling manner,’ explains Napier. Christine’s story is sure to appeal to anyone who’s ever sat plotting revenge tactics around the kitchen table. (Claire Prentice)
Fine (Fringe) Perpetual Theatre, Theatre Workshop (Venue 20) 226 5425, 26-31Aug, 8. 30pm, £5.50 (£3.50).
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THE OHEEN OF IAN STONE
In one of the most un- endearing ‘acting spaces’ in town — there's nothing like clearing out an old broom-cupboard and
t 4 GUYS EATING OUT
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euphemistically calling it the ‘Wee Room' — lan Stone sweats through an uneasy hour. Other nights, I‘m told. he brings the house down. but tonight he never picks up his rhythm. he isn’t getting much response from the crowd and his delivery goes haywire. Ian Stone‘s a nice guy and some of this material is very good
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— his Jewish upbringing creates a constant stream of gags — but itjust all misfires. He copes admirably with the theological heckler, though. (Grant Gordon) I The Cheek Dt lan Stone (Fringe) lan Stone. Gilded Balloon ll (Venue 36) 226 215I. until 31 Aug (not 29) 9.15pm. £6.50 (£5.50).
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DOMINIO HOLLAND
Dominic Holland has served his apprenticeship and emerged a master of his art.
The self-deprecating humour that dominated his act a few years ago has been replaced with a warm observational style with enough edge to prevent him from being likened to a teddy bear in review.
4" Dominic liolland: master of his art
More bloke-next-door than lager-swilling New Lad. he's more concerned about how far you peel an onion or when it's time to wash a towel than how to get a shag. But this just makes him more accessible to a wider audience.
Dominic Holland may be a nice guy. but he's very funny indeed. Go see. (Catherine Pound)
I Dominic liolland (Fringe) The Honeycomb (Venue I39) 226 2I5l. until 3| Aug (not 29)
8. l5pm. £6.50 (£5.50).
THEATRE REVIEW * * *
MODERN PROBLEMS IN SCIENCE
Here’s a new spin on comedy improvisation. ‘Give me a household object.’ is replaced by. ‘Suggest an unlikely hypothesis and three academic disciplines.‘ The performers ‘prove' the suggested concept by lecturing on it in the manner of rambling university professors. But audiences can be unpredictable. The other night a professor of tables had to speak on Meryl Streep's role in the death of River Phoenix thanks to some zany punters in the front row.
The team rise to the challenge. finding plenty of laughs. but ultimately they have to rely on the
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Modern Problems In Science: give us a theory, any theory
premise that academia is intrinsically hilarious. and this they have yet to prove. (Catriona Craig)
I Modem Problems in Science (Fringe) Assembly Rooms (Venue 3) 226 2428. until 31 Aug (not 29). 8.45 pm. £8.50/ £7.50 (£7.50/£6.50).
Adam Bloom: metaphysical gags
**** ADAM BLDDM
Adam Bloom is a philosopher. He tries to be the geezer at the bar. but he‘s really the thinker in the corner. He takes the old ‘isn't-it-funny-the- way . . .‘ genre and invests it with some brilliant slabs of ‘and- this-is-why.’ When Bloom says 'I believe in God' — you know he means it. This is an absorbing show — pacey. constantly hilarious and always thought-provoking. It's clever. but unpretentious stuff that creates a warm atmosphere like those fun lecturers at college used to do. Even gags about Jeremy Beadle seem to have a metaphysical resonance. (Grant Gordon) I “all BIDDI (Fringe). Cafe Royal (Venue 47) 556 2549. until 3| Aug (not 20, 29) 9pm. £5 (£4).
****
FORD KEIRNAN AND JOHN PAUL LEAOH IN THE FULL BHUNNA
A sausage supper, a few beers and a footie match on the box is Keirnan and Leach's idea of a top night. The two weegies can’t stand English yahs. but are equally happy to slag off Scottish ned culture. with a round of achingly funny stereotypes taking in tacky trips to Torremolinos. the Daily Record and kids named Kylie. The hilariously
animated Keirnan is the stronger of the two. while Leach spends much of the act trying to reel him back from wild digressions. It’s unlikely. but if the fast- talking duo’s comedy success ever dried up they‘d make great second-hand car dealers. (Claire Prentice)
I Ford ltelman And John Paul Leach In The Full Blilllllla (Fringe) Ford Keirnan And John Paul Leach. Gilded Balloon Theatre (Venue 38) 226 2I5I. until 25 Aug. 8.I5pm. £7 (£6).
the Full Bbunna: it ain’t halt hot mum
Review star ratings
s s i t w Unmissable s a t a Very good Worth seeing Below average
it You‘ve been warned
42 The List 23 Aug-S Sept I996