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’9’“V.l 3pm-69m theatre comedy dance music books
THEATRE BeSIde Picasso finish The man behind the myths
You’d expect any play about the Spanish artist to be as colourful and flamboyant as the man himself, but the visual aspect of this production is minimalist to the extreme. On an almost bare stage, Picasso and his friend and biographer Sabartes, re- enact pivotal scenes from their life together, to create a portrait of the real Pablo, minus the myths.
Rich in detail and aggressively honest, this energetic play was obViously a labour of love for writer Brian McAvera, who also wrote Picasso’s Women. Even if you don't share his enthusiasm for the artist, this is still a worthwhile, though slightly over-long, production. (Kirsty Knaggs) ;'.;;-: Beside Picasso (Fringe) AJTC, Rocket @ Theatre Arts Centre (Venue 76) 667 6666, until 26 Aug (not 20) 5. 75pm,“ 78 8 79 Aug, 5.45pm, £6 (£4.50).
COMEDY
McDougall 8: Donkin **** Hilarious two woman sketch show Through a host of superbly energetic sketches, these two writers for Channel 4's Smack The Pony create a world where the banal everyday meets the Wilfully absurd with rib-tickling
HURRAH PRODUCTIONS presents TAKE A CHANCE ON ME
Violence, nudity Iii en Abbe tribute heel. All ttirtiedly justified bee-use it's very funny.
Crovne Pleze lIotel (venue 39) 80 High Street, The Royal Mile Edinburgh 21-26 August 2000 et 89m TICKETS AVAILABLE FROH THE FRINGE BOX OFFICE 0131 226 4205 £6 (£4 cone)
www.hurrahprodmztions.wm
36 THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 17—24 Aug 2000
Picasso looks Sabartes in the eye-or they just saying hello Eskimo style?
results. From spoof rubbish improv shows to pregnant women choosing ridiculous baby names ('lgnoramus' anyone?), Charlotte McDougall and Susie Donkin race through their bizarre world with near perfect timing. Throwing in some elaborate wordplay as well as more straightforward observational stuff, the two women work delightfully together, and aren’t afraid to drift away from the belly laughs and be a bit more adventurous. They even have a couple of funny songs — will wonders never cease? (Doug Johnstone)
_ ; McDouga/l 8 Donkin (Fringe) Gilded Balloon, Gilded Balloon Theatre (Venue 38) 226 275 7, until 28 Aug
, (not 22) 4.45pm, £7 (£6).
COMEDY
MacHomer *‘k‘ki' Shakespeare meets The Simpsons Put on a show about The Simpsons and you’ve got a guaranteed fan base. You're also exposing yourself to high expectations, but the multi-talented
, Rick Miller has nothing to worry
about. He’s a man of many voices and for this one-man rendition of Macbeth, Miller utilises the characters and v0ices of Homer, Marge and the
; gang. If you don’t know the play or
the TV show then it could all be a bit baffling, as the narrative moves at high speed, but if you are a fan you'll enjoy the manic antics and cross referencing: ’ls this a donut | see before me?’
; (Louisa Pearson) i g .7 MacHomer (Fringe) Rick Mil/er,
Assembly Rooms (Venue 3) 226 2428, until 28 Aug, 5.30pm, £9 (£8). THEATRE Wanted Man ****
Surreal goings—on in the shed
John Jump is haVing a domestic crisis, so naturally he’s hiding in his shed. As
he potters around in silence for the
first couple of minutes, it becomes clear that this is not a happy man. When his unbearably perky neighbour and best friend Derek Smallwood pops
in to share a cup of tea, the story
behind John’s misery emerges, and a
/
surreal tale it is too. Together, they act out the events of the preceding weeks, with a perfect sense of comic timing and narrative tension. A truly original piece of theatre. (Kirsty Knaggs)
I Wanted Man (Fringe) The Table Show, Assembly Rooms (Venue 3) 226 2428, until 28 Aug, 5.30pm, £9/f70 (£8/f9).
MUSICAL . Whatever! The Musrcal ****
Cheesy satirical musical romp
' A visual and aural extravaganza, Whatever! is a surreal mix of Grease, Clueless and The Jerry Springer Show.
Moving from the 805 and 905 to the present day, it tells the story of Sindy, a psycho-babbling trailer-trash beauty, and Wood, a sensitive jock. This unlikely pair meet and instantly fall in love, to the chagrin of their respective parents, leading them to run away and set up home together. The music,
' '\
played live by a band above the stage, is rousing and combined with the choreography and over-the-top performances creates a dazzling 75 minutes of fun-packed action.
(Kirsty Knaggs)
I Whatever! The Musical (Fringe) Canned Productions, C (Venue 34) 225 5705, until 27 Aug (not 22) 5.45pm, £7.50 (£4.50/f5.50).
THEATRE
Eve's Tail ***
Laura Bozanich’s wacky one girl ’fess up
Eve is a slightly flaky Californian girl grieving for her recently deceased father. The therapy she chooses to help reach the light at the end of the tunnel is Dr Gender’s class on ’How To Make Love All Day'. The trauma of these new age sessions leads to a variety of flashbacks. This is brave fundamental stuff, reminiscent of the brilliant Jack Klaff (The 50 Minute Hour). Bozanich has a powerful sense of pace and rhythm and keeps the audience riveted if only through her giddy performance. More Tracey Ullman than Elizabeth Wurtzel, you do sometimes wish she would bring on the darkness. (Paul Dale)
l Eve’s Tai/ (Fringe) Dancing Eggs Productions, Rocket @ Theatre Arts Centre (Venue 76) 667 6666, until 26 Aug, 5.40pm, £5 (£3).
Cracking the whip: McDougall and Donkin
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