10pm—Late

THEATRE PREVIEW Live Bed Sho

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Society Anonime: rotten johnny

In bed with Gary Lineker? Not quite, but Arthur Smith, the writer of this broad comedy for adults is co-writer of the hit An Evening with Gary Lineker as well as a familiar Radio 4 comedy voice. Nothing quite so clean-cut this time in a show that has stirred up a few clergymen, incensed by the offer of free condoms at all performances. Just another tacky gimmick to get people interested in a show? Donald Munro, who plays the sex-obsessed character Cash, is laid-back about the furore. 'Some shows offer free drinks and cake ours is all about sex, so why not give out condoms?' Here's an opportunity to flashback to those naff songs of the early 80s with two 30- somethings making a mess of love, sex and relationships. Not to mention finding the answer to that vital question 'how often do men think about sex?’ (Don Morris) Live Bed Show (Fringe) Society Anonime, Old St Paul’s Church (Venue 45) 556 0476, 9—29 Aug (not 77.24) 70. 75pm, £6 ([4). Previews 7,8 Aug, )0. 75pm, £4 (£3).

COMEDY PREVIEW No Spleen

After her last stay in Britain, Carolyn Cohagan was deported. Harbouring no grudges, she is returning to our shores with the first fringe performance of her one-woman show. The title is both literal and metaphorical, telling the story of how she lost the organ in question. A combination of theatre and stand-up, the act is essentially an opportunity to sample this Texan’s storytelling, and the venue suits her. 'The idea of stand-up in a theatre is fantastic —I’m sick of telling dick jokes and being heckled by really boozed people. The idea of just being able to tell stories really excites me.’

Cohagan feels she represents a departure in women’s comedy. ’It’s not big hair, big shoulder-pads and period jokes my humour is neutral, it appeals to both sexes. I don't want to alienate the men in my audience.’ (Steve Cramer)

% No Spleen (Fringe) Carolyn Cohagan, C, Over-Seas House (Venue I9) 225 5105, 5—37 Aug, 71pm, £5.50 (£4.50).

14 THE usT 6—13 Aug 1998

theatre 0 dance 0 comedy

COMEDY PREVIEW Noise And Other Announcements

‘Voices are hard work,’ claims Scottish comic and Tennents’ ad star Geoff Boyz. ’Some impressionists think they can get laughs out of the fact that they can do a silly voice "oh here's Jimmy Saville going into a fish and chip shop” - who cares? That’s why my impressions have gradually disappeared. The only thing remaining is the De Niro routine, people won’t let me drop it.’ Boyz has always tempered his gift for mimicry with a keen comic sensibility.

This year he'll be using his talents to create characters and set pieces around the theme of various aspects of noise. The curious idea came from a late-night conversation with a friend. ’Noisy eaters, the idea of mini-cab drivers doing pilot announcements on planes we just found it incredibly funny.’ Judging by his past appearances, audiences are likely to as well. (Rory Ford)

3 Noise And Other Announcements (Fringe) Geoff Boyz, Observer Assembly (Venue 3) 226 2428, 7-37 Aug (not 77) 10. 75pm, [9/[8 (£8/f7).

COMEDY PREVIEW Mike Gunn - Good Grief

'l’ve been asked to perform at a funeral director’s Christmas do. I’m not sure if I will, they’re probably a miserable bunch.’ It’s not a common gig for any stand-up but it’s one Gunn is ideally suited for with his funereal persona. He has been assured that they ’love a laugh down at the crematorium’ and it should give him the opportunity to do even more research.

Taking perverse delight in relating true stories about the pranks they get up to down at the mortuary, Gunn will be assuring audiences that there is no dignity in death. His character may not have much luck with the ladies ’except pensioners, obviously’ but he is convinced of the universal sexual allure of widows. ’l find women in black lace desperately attractive,’ he sighs mournfully. (Rory Ford).

m Mike Gunn Good Grief (Fringe) Pleasance (Venue 33) 556 6550, 7—37 Aug (not 17, 78) 70,45pm, f8/[7

(f 7/£ 6). Preview 6 Aug, 10.45pm, £4.

THEATRE PREVIEW A Ghost Of A Chance

If A Ghost OfA Chance is anything to go by, it would seem that redundancy should carry a strange and mysterious health warning. For Bob, being laid off is only the beginning of a roller-coaster ride in which he finds himself heading towards the abyss. Facing redundancy, and living in fear of how his wife might react, he contemplates the unthinkable. All I can say here is that it involves his thirteen-year-old son - but it may whet your appetite to know that the play has been described as ’Faust meets Poltergeist.’

Paul Henry (of Benny from Crossroads

COMEDY PREVIEW Rob Newman

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Rob Newman is worried about his haemorrhoids. Rob Newman -— the man who turned comedy into rock 'n’ roll (and teenage girls into butter) -— is worried that the new saddle he has bought for his bicycle 'will play merry hell with me chalfonts when I get to Edinburgh.’

His August itinerary includes nothing more rock ’n' roll than cycling and learning Spanish. ’I don't want to do the usual thing of getting your feet all achey. walking round thinking "maybe l’ll know someone in the next coffee shop." I want to do something constructive though it’ll probably all go fucking wrong and I'll end up under a table in the Gilded Balloon like usual.’

His show promises to be equally high-minded. ’lt's sort of political in the broadest sense, and philosophical,‘ he insists. ’lt's even a bit Chomskyan. I'll be talking about stuff like how the news is always reported from the point of view of big business.’ Blimey, it’s not exactly "That’s you, that is.“ is it? ‘Well these days. l'm more myself on stage - which is better for me, but worse for the audience. l'm less like an entertaining person now. and more like a very tedious man because that’s what I am.’ (Ed Grenby)

Rob Newman (Fringe) Observer Assembly (Venue 3) 226 2428, l3—3i Aug (not )8) 70pm, £70.50/f950 (QED/£8.50). Previews H 8! 12, 70pm, £5.

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Rob Newman: grapes and laughs

fame) plays down-on-his-luck Bob. ’The play works on several levels,’ he states. ’It can make you jump, it can make you laugh and there’s also the sadness the way the system can grind you down.’ (Robin James)

as A Ghost Of A Chance (Fringe) Maverick Theatre, Observer Assembly (Venue 3) 226 2428, 737 Aug (not 77, 24) 77.30pm, [8.50/[750 (£7.50/f6. 50).

COMEDY PREVIEW Charlie Cheese's Jacket 0f Badges

Mackenzie Crook’s earliest memory is of toasting bread over the fire while watching Bruce Forsyth’s Generation Game. He’s never quite been the same since and has now taken on the persona of Charlie Cheese, a tacky game-show host has-been who never

actually made It in the first place. ’He’s more cartoon-like than Alan Partridge,’ says Crook, ‘He's more of a caricature of a Bruce Forsyth, Jimmy TarbuCk-style character who never made it. His is a very end-of-the-pier, holiday camp style humour.’ Returning to the Fringe for the fourth year running, Charlie Cheese is bringing his latest gimmick, a coat of badges guaranteed to bring the punters in. the why, remains to be seen, but the man who created the irasCIble teacher, Bagshaw, for Channel 4’s Barking seems quietly confident. Despite havmg dreamt up the Idea in Amsterdam. And he doesn’t even take drugs. (Thom Dibdin) ‘fi Charlie Cheese ’s Jacket of Badges (Fringe) Charlie Cheese, Southside (Venue 82) 667 2272, 7—31 Aug,

70pm, [5 (f4. 50).