Festival TheatreDayPlanner
The Assassination of Paris Hilton ●●●●● With a provocative, audience-pleasing title and an oh-so-now toilet location this production screams must-see Fringe show. But while there’s a lot to like here – the five plotting Paris- alikes are suitably un-self-aware, decrying the über-valley girl while at the same time embodying her worst traits – the show rarely lifts itself above the obvious shooting-celebrity-fish-in-a- barrel premise. (Claire Ritchie) Assembly Rooms, 623 3030, until 30 Aug, 3pm & 5pm, £10 (£8). Austen’s Women ●●●●● An enthusiastic roll-call of Austen moments. If you aren’t a fan you’re unlikely to be converted, and Rebecca Vaughan might want to go for subtlety over squeals more often, but she’s good at the character parts and it’s a pleasant romp through the female creations of everyone’s favourite old maid. (Lizzie Mitchell) Assembly Rooms, 623 3030, until 31 Aug, 11.15am, £12–£13 (£10–£11). Borges and I ●●●●● Stick with this lovely piece about the power of reading through the first scene and you’ll find an astonishingly accomplished young company, crafting an entire interactive set out of inscriptions carved into second hand books. There’s beautiful movement, an utterly charming love story, a proper reverence for words and an intense, multi-sensual examination of the fears of going blind. (Kirstin Innes) The Zoo, 662 6892, until 28 Aug, 5.30pm, £7 (£5). The Cubicle ●●●●● This energetically performed lav-based farce is more entertaining than any number of shows at major venues. Devised from graffiti found on the back of bog doors, it’s a riotous mix of comedy, dance and audience participation (the latter involving a pair of handcuffs). Part of the Free Fringe, it’s a welcome reminder of what the now heavily commercialised festival once was. (Miles Fielder) Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 667 7533, until 30 Aug, 3.25pm, free. Forever Young ●●●●● Remembering WWI through letters, diaries, poems and song there are some wonderful performances here from the Yvonne Arnaud Youth Theatre’s young cast. While the ‘war is hell’ message may be clichéd, in these troubled times it’s truer than ever, while there’s always an added poignancy when told in the words of those who were actually there. (Henry Northmore) Augustine’s, 510 0022, until 31 Aug, 12.40pm, £8 (£6). If That’s All There Is ●●●●● Less a play than a series of sketches, this show created by Inspector Sands is about a couple of maladjusted professionals approaching their wedding day. Wittily staged, it has some good gags about the bureaucratic mindset, but it is ultimately a cynical piece of work that has no love for its characters nor, for that matter, an explanation for the dramatic event with which it begins. (Mark Fisher). Traverse Theatre, 228 1404, until 30 Aug, times vary, £14–£16 (£10–£11). Me Too – A Sideshow ●●●●● Ulrike Quade’s one-woman show, about the outrageous, tragic life of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet, would benefit from a change of space. The Majestic is too large for sideshows, and the play’s dream-logic plotlessness would play better somewhere more intimate. While
it’s impossible to forget that Quade’s sister is a puppet, their rapport never falls short of totally believable. (Matt Boothman) New Town Theatre, 0844 477 1000, until 30 Aug, 2pm, £11–£12 (£9–£10). Micaela Leon: Kabarett Berlin ●●●●● As Micaela Leon takes you through her top eight ‘Weimar Girls’, you get a real feel for her respect for these women – it’s just unfortunate that her tribute is an underwhelming substitute for the real thing, and her telling of their stories feels a little lecturing. Although she shines on one slower number, Leon’s vocals have a tendency to veer into the manic. (Laura Ennor) C Chambers Street, 0845 260 1234, until 31 Aug, 9.35pm, £9.50–£11.50 (£8.50–£10.50). The One and the Many ●●●●● An ill-advised trip to a massage parlour leads to the discovery of the mysterious ‘virgin whore of Prague’ in this philosophical rom-com. The concept of a successful virgin prostitute is just one of several twists in a show that attempts to question beauty, identity and reality, but instead descends into cliché and repetition. (Amy Taylor) The GRV, 226 0000, until 30 Aug, 4pm, £5. A One Way Street ●●●●● The preoccupations of suburban housewives are presented in four, well-observed sketches. Sarah and Lois, trapped in a larder during a kids’ party, argue the merits of ‘sustainable’ party bags. Paula and Cathy, rehearsing their pitch for a position on the neighbourhood council, descend into petty one-upmanship. Understated and irresistibly funny. (Griselda Murray Brown) The Vault, 510 0022, until 31 Aug, 1.45pm, £7 (£5). The Play About Charlotte ●●●●● A successful young playwright struggles with a lack of inspiration in her life and marriage until her work suffers and mental illness blurs the boundaries of reality. A plot which twists back on itself to revisit scenes from a different perspective rejuvenates the narrative, while forceful performances push forward the emotional charge of this production. (Amy Russell) C soco, 0845 260 1234, until 31 Aug, 1.30pm, £7.50–£9.50 (£6.50–£8.50). A Promised Land ●●●●● Thought provoking by virtue of its subject matter (post-Holocaust Europe, the early days of the Israel-Palestine conflict), this play is weighty and worthy. Despite skilful performances from Corinne Harris as two very different women, though, the piece succumbs occasionally to the all-too- treacherous pitfalls of wartime drama: clichéd dialogue and trite sentimentality in the rare moments of joy and understanding amid the horror and mistrust. (Laura Ennor) Scottish Storytelling Centre, 556 9579, until 29 Aug, 7.30pm, £7.50 (£5). RE ●●●●● Frustrating piece about three people trapped with each other and the ghosts of their pasts. Confusion arises from a script trying to do too much in such a limited time frame, but the show is saved by beautiful staging and strong performances, which keep the audience tantalised. (Siân Bevan) Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, until 31 Aug, 1pm, £7–£8 (£5.50–£6.50). Sea Spray and Cuckoo Spit ●●●●● Decent production about a grief-shattered fishing family struggling to cope with the loss of a son to the sea that still sustains them. The story is nothing new, but some very good performances (particularly by bright- eyed Alex Marieka Hanly as the teenage daughter), and nice physical work help flesh out the characters into people we could care for. (Kirstin Innes) Augustine’s, 510 0022, until 31 Aug, 9pm, £7 (£5). The Sound of My Voice ●●●●● This revival of an acclaimed two-hander from the Citizens Theatre has lost little of its power. Adapted from Ron Butlin’s novel by director Jeremy Raison, it tells the story of a biscuit company executive’s descent into alcoholism. The punishing drinking sessions and personal and professional nadirs eventually become nauseating to watch. Nicely performed by Billy Mack and Michele Gallagher, this is a dark and powerful piece of entertainment. (Steve Cramer) Assembly Rooms, 623 3030, until 30 Aug, 3.20pm, £11–£12 (£9–£10). Sweeney Todd: His Life, Times and Execution! ●●●●● Lashings of fake blood, ample busts and bawdy thrusts characterise this enjoyable and suitably grotesque adaptation. The twist here is that the killings are largely accidental, the killer a meek, clumsy and rather sweet boy. The puppetry is perhaps an extra dimension that didn’t need to be added, but the music is wonderfully atmospheric and it’s adeptly performed by the cast. (Laura Ennor) Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, until 31 Aug, 2.15pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7.50–£8.50). The Tale of Lady Stardust ●●●●● Convinced that David Bowie is a prophet, Ziggy and Gary are eagerly awaiting the Rapture in their grotty flat when their bubble is pierced by the appearance of a drugged-up clubber. As a meditation on religious extremism, it has little new to say but clever staging and strong acting carry along this dark tale to its terrifying end. (Yasmin Sulaiman) Underbelly, 0844 545 8252, until 29 Aug, 3.30pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8–£9). Tap and Chat with Lionel Blair ●●●●● This show does exactly what it says on the tin. Lionel does a little tap dancing, which given his antiquity is impressive, then goes into a series of showbiz recollections of days gone by about everyone from Brucie to Liza, adding songs and bits of film to the cheesy chat. (Steve Cramer) Sweet Grassmarket, 0870 241 0136, until 30 Aug (not 26), 11.45am, £12 (£10). Third Breast ●●●●● Hampered by ham-fisted direction where outbursts of ‘dramatic’ music punctuate any significant utterance, any poetry in the lines is garbled by actors who don’t understand their characters or the meaning of the words. This magical realist allegory about power corrupting has been strangled at birth. Asking people to pay £7 for this is appalling, and much of the audience seemed to agree as they walked out. (Kirstin Innes) Augustine’s, 510 0022, until 31 Aug, 7.15pm, £7 (£6). A Tribute – Gielgud’s Ages of Man ●●●●● Billed at two hours, George Innes rushes to complete his tribute to Gielgud on time, losing several impatient people halfway through. It’s a shame; while his Romeo lacks youthful
102 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 27 Aug–10 Sep 2009
list.co.uk/festival vigour, Innes is an imperious Prospero, and reads Gielgud’s letters with infectious admiration. Good, but a poor fit for the Free Fringe. (Matt Boothman) Laughing Horse @ The Outhouse, 557 6668, until 30 Aug, 12.15pm, free. Up ●●●●● Edgy production about a young gay teacher who’s in hospital recovering from a mental collapse. There he recalls a haunting incident from his youth, involving a student and a pair of sharpened pencils. Debut playwright James Ley’s script is crisp and elliptical, finally coming to the point, as it were, with a killer closing line. (Miles Fielder) The Vault, 510 0022, until 31 Aug, 7.15pm, £8 (£6). Weepie ●●●●● For a hard-hitting portrayal of emotional violence and its shocking physical manifestations, this play is awfully funny. For an exploration of how we seek transcendence through love, religion, or acts of murder, it is rooted surprisingly firmly in the everyday. For a company of newcomers, the Lincoln Company presents a remarkably assured piece of theatre. A few rough edges do little to take away from this engrossing, if bemusing, experience. (Laura Ennor) C soco, 0845 260 1234, until 31 Aug, 9.25pm, £7.50–£9.50 (£6.50–£8.50). Words with AL Kennedy ●●●●● AL Kennedy proves herself a consummate storyteller in this sharp meditation on the power of words. A largely autobiographical look at her love affair with language, Kennedy meanders delightfully from paranoia about her recent Costa award win through her child to adulthood, concluding with a slice of audience interaction. (Anna Millar) Assembly Rooms, 623 3030, until 31 Aug, 4.50pm £9–10 (£8–£9). The Works of Fate ●●●●● This bawdy and at times comical take on De Sade follows the awaited return of a prodigal son, turning, by an outrageous contrivance, into a meta-theatrical re- enactment of the sordid life of his stepmother, with much emphasis on its violence and sexual rapaciousness. This piece of free theatre makes up for its rough edges with major gusto. (Steve Cramer) Laughing Horse @ The Hive, 556 0444, until 30 Aug, 1pm, free. A Year’s Hard Labour ●●●●● Goldsmiths Drama Society showcases a diverse array of talents in this marathon- paced play. As six jurors discuss an immigration case, their daydreams meld into reality, though slick staging ensures the audience is never confused. And, despite the hurried ending – an animated bust up suddenly turns into an inebriated tussle – sound performances make this an engaging free show. (Yasmin Sulaiman) Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 667 7533, until 30 Aug, 2.05pm, free. Zoo Lodge ●●●●● Inflammatory drivel about a British couple’s troubled stay in a Johannesburg hostel. Slurs and damaging secrets are awkwardly tossed between an Afrikaans handyman, a Zimbabwean refugee, a philandering hostel owner, his Spanish lover and finger-pointing wife. In attempting to counter a self-righteous gap-year sensibility, shoddy writing and weak performances here misplace the emphasis to devastating effect. (Rosalie Doubal) Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, until 31 Aug, 1.40pm, £8–£9 (£6.50–£7.50).