COMEDY REVIEW
BOTTOM I.IVE 3 - HOOLIGAN’S ISLAND
Seen at Apollo Theatre, Manchester. At King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Mon til-Sat 15 Feb.
As Richie Rich and Eddie Hitler, the layabout tlat-sharers of Bottom, Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson lord it at the table that is toilet humour. Bottom may well be the muckiest sit-com on telly; and there are no sacred cows in the stage version either. If Mary Whitehouse found herself on the guest list, she would probably have to be carried out semi-conscious on a saline drip.
For llooligan’s Island, the depraved duo’s third live outing, Richie and Eddie have been marooned for three long years on a desert island. With no women to leer at and little chance of being rescued, life looks bleak. But who would want to liberate this pair of sickos, with their endless procession of disgusting fart gags and outrageous sound-eftects, based on a variety ot bodily functions? Only when they stumble across a still-live nuclear bomb, carelessly discarded by the French navy, does one see any hope of salvation.
there can be few depths of bad taste to which Rik and Ade - at each others’ throats throughout - do not descend. Milking the laughs in an orgy of justly deserved self-congratulation, the pair serve up a masterclass in comedy theatre, including a host of silly puns which wouldn’t look out of place on
Cheek-to-cheek: le Mayall (left) and Ade Edmondson in Bottom
the wonderfully absurd Police Squad. All frightened expressions and laser- beam eyes, Mayall looks as unhinged as ever, while Edmondson - calm, knowing and panic-free, despite their predicament - gives an armchair performance.
Bottom also scores well in the value- for-money department - Vic and Bob doing an hour and ten minutes this isn’t. A two-hour set of breathless vulgarity leaves the audience haying for more as the curtain descends at the end of the night, suggesting that the market for Botfonr’s tasteless brand of laughter is as tertile as ever. And they know they’re on to a good thing, for the show’s conclusion is neatly left open for the inevitable sequel. (Mike Barnett)
FRIDAY 14
Glasgow
I Bottom live 3 - Hooligan’s Island King's Theatre. Bath Street. Tickets from the Ticket Centre. Candleriggs on 287 55l I and all Ticketlink outlets. 8pm. £l2.5()—£l7.5() (plus booking lee). See Mon l() and review. above.
Edinburgh
I The Stand The Tron Ceilidh House. Hunter Square. 220 1550. Doors open 8pm—Iam (show runs ‘)--l Ipin). At least five acts for £5 (£4. benel'it only — no student concessions). Weekly. The Stand
refuse to get sloppy with a pledge to say ‘Ha. ha. ha to Valentiney hearts and flowers with (mainly) wicked women' such as stand-ups Mary Unl'aithl'ul. Dundonian Ruby Slippers. Joon Broon (an’un‘ Dundonian) and brave male guest compete Dave Williams. Prepare to be afraid.
SATURDAY 15
Glasgow
I Bottom Live 3 - Hooligan’s Island King's Theatre. Bath Street. Tickets from the Ticket Centre. Candlet‘iggs on 287 55! l and all Ticketlink outlets. 8pm. £l2.50—£l7.50 (plus booking fee). See Mon l0 and review. above.
LISTINGS THEATRE
X,
Birdsrfl’rddir
THEATRE CO
dramatic collage of voices...
and new writinginspired by it
tongu
Phil McIntyre Presents
IN A BRAND N
Mon 30 June & Tue 1 July 1997
BE EtjfiN
Sunday 9 March 1997
EDINBURGH U
Box Office: 0131 228 1155 Agency & cc bkgs subject to bkg fee
7: 8 4
SfiflllAllfl
Sam Shepard &Joseph..Chaikin’s
11-28 February Glasgow
Cumbernauld East Kilbride Stirling Edinburgh Penh
Paisley Aberdeen
Details from 0141 331 2219
EW SHOW
in a brand new SI‘lOW
SHER HALL
This strong Irish play is a straight talking, hilarious and hard-hitting look at the myths and realities of life as a middle aged woman.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the play . . . the show was brilliant”
Daniel O'Donnell (Yes. the Danlol O‘Donnell)
Monday 10 to Saturday 15 February at 7.30pm. Tickets from £5.50 (concessions)
EDINBURGH
EEITIVAL THEATRE
See it Hear it Feel it
The List 7-20 Feb I997 65