Dfiffiv.l OpM'OPM theatre comedy dance music books
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1.5 Supergirly: Naughty But Nice first time since I977 is legendary ex-
OPERA PREVIEW Alcina
Stuttgart Opera ’5 first visit since 7966
Narrative framing: Alcina
Making its first visit to Edinburgh since 1966 is the 300-year-old Stuttgart State Opera. Considering that Scottish Opera has still to reach the big 40, the tradition they bring with them is impressive. Ironically though, it was in London that the German composer Handel wrote Alcina, the opera which Stuttgart bring to the Festival in a production first seen at the
Staatsoper in 1998.
All about misunderstandings and complications in the affairs of the
heart on enchantress Alcina’s magic island, the opera is a fantasy in a holiday paradise. Knights are transformed into strange, inhuman creatures, but man of the moment, Ruggiero, is allowed to remain just that. In true opera mode, his fiancee disguises herself as her brother. Will Alcina's powers be destroyed? Will it all end happily? You might be able
to guess.
Updated by directors Jossi Wisler and Sergio Morabito, with British
conductor Alan Hacker, this production tries to make a space for Handel‘s imagery where Alcina's domain is what lies between order and imagined wish-fulfillment. Production shots, with an emphasis on mirrors, look fairly racy, giving credence to one review which describes the production as ’loaded to the fingertips with eroticism.’ (Carol Main)
Alcina (International) Stuttgart State Opera, Festival Theatre, 473 2000,
74—77 Aug, 7. 75pm, £5—£50.
THEATRE PREVIEW For What We Are About To Receive
New play by acclaimed Scottish writer
HaVing made a dramatic impact with her pi‘ewous works Heritage and The Hanging Tree, acclaimed Scottish playwright, Nicola McCartney’s new play explores how our lives are shaped by the random colIiSions between destiny, chance encounter, choice and Ourgenes
Grace, an elderly woman of 70 is found dying in a hospital at the beginning of the play. We then 10in her on an epic Journey as she takes us back through her life and shares With us her experiences of passion, regret, love and Loss 'lt's about destiny to some extent,‘ says McCartney, ’asking are somehow programmed or is it Izos.’ end up in life7'
Although an experienced playwright McCartney found it partiCularly chaiiengng Writing her f.rst three-act play and tei.ing a story backwards Corrtparir‘g .t to kno.‘.ing the pun I: re before you tel. tne Joke, size adds that because of tbs
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1; For What We Are About To Receive (Fringe) Brun ton Theatre Company (Venue 797) 665 2240, 77—26 Aug (not 73) 7.30pm, £8 (£4). 26 Aug 2.30pm, £5.50 (£4).
COMEDY PREVIEW
Supergirly: Naughty But Nice
Britney speared in girly parody Back With a new line-up of poptastic piss-takes, the Antipodean superduo are once again turning their tarty talents to all your fave chart-topping tracks. Lampooning everyone from All Saints to Ricky Martin, Supergi'r/y’s new show, Naughty But Nice looks set to continue the sequmned superstars’ gently ironic style, combined With an
; apparently genuine love for the mUSIC.
’l’ve always loved pop mUSicl You
' couldn’t do this 24 hours a day and
hate the tunes
. you’d go insane,’
says Supergirly Lou.se McClatchy.
Even if you're the type Who's keen to take Britney's cries of ’llit Me Baby One More Time’ a little too literally, McClatchy reckons she can still, um, ’Spice Up Your Life' 'lt’s basically tongue-in-cheek, but it's all about haying a laugh, too If you're the kind of person who loves Bhtiiey you'll love t'.<- six/.2, if you caii't start} her you'll
(Fringe) ElCC (Venue 757) 0870 900 455, 77-72 Aug, 7.30pm 8 70pm, 79—20 Aug, 7pm 8 70pm, £72.50.
BOOK FESTlVAL PREVlEW
Sara Paretsky
Hard-boiled writer talks social issues
Give Sara Paretsky credit: she created the first hard-boiled female private eye in VI. Warshawski. But after nine novels, does the character begin to write the books?
’The challenge is to stay fresh,’ says Paretsky, ’you can become a parody of yourself. I stayed away from that by writing a completely different book (her ninth, Ghost Country, doesn’t feature Warshawski), then for my tenth I was able to come back with a fresh take on her.
The new novel, Hard Time, gets tough With America, criticising it’s penal system and the entertainment industry: ’Everyone is concerned about the way news and entertainment blur,’ says Paretsky. ’The interest is not in the news or the printed word, but how to package and sell.’
Paretsky Will expand on this at her two Book Festival appearances. ’The crime novel is the place to write about social issues,’ she concludes, ’it's the place where law, sooety and justice come together so it’s the natural vehicle.’ (Miles Fielder)
Sara Paretsky (Book) Charlotte Square Gardens, 624 5050, 72 Aug, 6.30pm, £7.50 (£5.50); With Frances Fyr’ie/d, 73 Aug, 3.30pm, £6.50 (£4.50).
MUSIC PREVIEW Creeping Bent Presents
Glas ow label brings highlights to Edin urgh
, This show, organised by Glasgow
independent record label Creeping Bent, promises to be one of the most intriguing music events of the whole Fringe, never mind the T on the Fringe
punk singer songwriter Vic Godard. Godard was the frontman of frequently namechecked punks Subway Sect, whose first gig was at the legendary 100 Club Punk Festival in 1976, alongside such slightly fam0us bands as The Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Buzzcocks.
Since the band’s implosion a couple of years later, Godard has drifted ' through twenty years of Northern Soul, jazz, swing and rock phases and it's this non-conformist attitude that impressed the man behind Creeping Bent, Douglas McIntyre. ’We do have a fairly eclectic roster,’ he says, ’and Vic Godard for me totally sums up the Creeping Bent ethos. The man’s a total original.’ (Doug Johnstone)
g”; Creeping Bent Presents (Fringe) Liquid Room (Venue 773) 0741 339 8383, 72 Aug 7.30pm, £5.
l still love the show!’ (Olly Lassman) mini-fest. Playing in Edinburgh for the
COMEDY The English American
*‘k‘k‘k One woman, many identities
Fortunately for everyone, Comedy Store veteran Alison Larkin’s one- woman performance is a far more refreshing experience than the unfortunately charmless title suggests. Infectious enthusiasm, razor-sharp Wit, a dab hand at character acting; Larkin manages to be both poignant, tenderly and genuinely tackling her adoption- induced identity crisis, and effortlessly funny. Her schizophrenic accent- shifting, hyperactive stage presence and ’show-off’ musical talents seem all the more impressive considering she’s eating for two at the moment,although you’d swear there were at least ten of her on stage. One-woman performance? Don't make me laugh. (Olly Lassman)
;; The English American (Fringe) Assembly Rooms (Venue 3) 226 2428, until 28 Aug, 6.45pm, £9/£70 (£8/£9).
48 THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 'L—‘ 31-; L.“