MNF
Part Two at Arches Theatre. Glasgow. until Sat 2] Sept.
‘Some have called it bitter dance grotesque,‘ states the programme, but it’s an inadequate description. A few words, especially in English, can’t do justice to the potency of East European theatre - of which this piece by St Petersburg's Teatr NovoG.O. Fronta is a thrilling example.
Although it begins (on the street outside the theatre) with a lengthy — and entirely incomprehensible — harangue in a language that sounds like bastardised Italian, the first half of Fabriku Liudi is almost wordless. Despite this, it communicates much more directly than most British contemporary dance. To a soundtrack ranging from Europop to classical music to rainfall, three shaven-headed
performers convey the essence of a ruptured society, its moods ranging from frivolity to terror, from companionship to desperate servility. Drawing their influences from disciplines as diverse as clowning. ballet and butoh, they perform with staggering agility. stamina and expressiveness — and alarming disregard for personal injury.
There are symbols at play which clearly will not cross the culturai_divide (much is made of waving flags and hanging banners, for example), but for the most part it’s all too painfully clear: a war survivor's inner struggle between cruelty and compassion, played in mime to a philistinic despot. is a particularly poignant episode. And there's an inescapable sense that it all comes from the heart. When the performers draw audience members into their finale smooch, ‘(Everything I Do) 1 Do It For You‘. you can question the wisdom of choosing a Bryan Adams song, but it‘s impossible not to believe they mean it. (Andrew Bumet)
REVIEW THEATRE
KtC Quiet Night In
By award-winning writer Davrd Harrower - Knives in Hens
a '11:. 2.. hilt/5’ “...strange, haunting ...an intriguing piece of theatre“ Scotland on Sunday
tramway hotline 0141 287 3900
19 — 21 September 8pm £6/£3
tramwa
25 Albert Drive Glasgow G41 2PE
MiRA URBAN
WE ARE THE HIBEES!
King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sun 2 Sept.
A glance at the league table may suggest otherwise, but Raymond Ross, writer oi We Are The Ilihees!, reckons the Easter Road boys are worth celebrating. After some postponement - caused by key player Russell Hunter’s illness - this green-hued tribute finally kicked off.
The play’s nostalgic trip over hallowed turfs of yesteryear - presented by the Brunton Theatre Company and Callus Stage Productions - sees life-long liibee Dod recounting his memories of the team’s glory days to a young news reporter, played for laughs by weatherman lloyd nuinan. All the while, die-hard fans rally round to show Wallace Mercer two fingers as his audacious 1990 takeover bid is re-enacted.
Flashbacks between the club’s birth in 1875 and more recent shenanigans with the Jambos’ chairman create a disjointed effect, but do succeed in conveying some of the passion and grassroots mentality all but wiped out by commercialism and the middle- class hijacking of Scotland’s national sport.
Played on green terraclng against an appropriate backdrop of Arthur’s Seat, .Robin Peoples and llugh loughlan’s production (much like the team) could do with tightening up a tad, while the
Injury time: Russell Hunter hopes to be reunited on stage with wife Una McLean ere long
set itself fails to be particularly evocative. Performances are a mixed bag, but old hand Una McLean turns in an uplifting performance as Dod’s gallus wee wife Effie, while Charles Kearney, brought in to replace Hunter, makes a credible nod despite having to read from the script. A silent cameo from Pat Stanton could on other terms be regarded as superfluous but the soccer legend goes down a storm.
After a subdued start, the punters get into Saturday afternoon form, relishing songs, chants and gags aimed at the maroon brigade. We Are The Ilihees may have rather a loose theatrical frame, but it’s glory the fans are after, and heck it’s been a while since they enjoyed much of that on the pitch. (Claire Prentice)
KYBO Theatre Company Diary Of A IVladman
Tues 24 & Wed 25 Sep 08.00pm ' £5.00/E3.00
“Scotland’s true urban v0/ta/res"The Scotsman
CAM RA
Glasgow Ale Festival 1996
Thur 26 Sep, 3.00—11pm Fri 27 & Sat 28 Sep, noon—11pm (No admission after 10.30 all nights) £2.50 (CAMRA members £1.50 on production of memership card)
Over 100 British beers, ciders and perries, foreign beer .bar, brevverIana stall, food stalls, live musuc each night
The Arches, 30 Midland Street r 0141 221 9736 The "0th Centre, Canleriggs ' 0141 227 5511
The List 20 Sept-3 Oct 1996 55