Theatre
Born African 0... Augustine '3. until 26 Aug. 7.15 pm. You may have read the
phrase. ‘this is what the Fringe is all about‘ once or twice already this year. if you have not read it a million times in the past. Hopefully. you paid little attention to it because it was a phrase designed exclusively to describe the devised work of Zimbabwean theatre company
Over The Edge.
This piece represents a very contemporary crisis in the life of a white Zimbabwean businessman. who comes under pressure when veterans occupy his father's farm. His money supply is drying up. and his African workers tell their story. seeking rights of their own. A complex situation drives the businessman to drastic solutions. and he decides that the simplest path to resolution is to rob a bank. A host of characters are conjured up by this trio of talented actors in a show which offers a series of introductions into a world we would otherwise struggle to understand. The show may sprawl a little and look like the workshop process from which it y 'as presumably created but the force of each scene and the refreshingly sincere style of acting make this a wee gem of a show. (Tim Abrahams)
Cabaret .0. Double lz'rlge Drama. The Underbelly. tmtil 26 Aug. times vary. Have a break at the Kit Kat Club. where the music is good and the girls are better. Set in 30s Berlin. this production like its Hollywood predecessor. examines the effect of the rise of the Nazis. Director Angus Graham-Campbell places a firm focus upon the sleazy activities of the mannequin-esque dancing girls who can be found crawling and grinding their way around the audience. The political theme slithcrs in tnuch later. The ensemble numbers are excellent. However. the decision to cast lead female. Sally with a tnale actor detracts from the lyricism of the piece. This show begins in a raunchy. innovative manner but unlike the Kit Kat girls. does not go all the way. (Kik Reid)
Caliban and Miranda .00
Theatre Workshop. until 18 Aug. times vary. I‘ve seen many physical theatre productions
of The Tempest. and my profit on't is I know
how to curse. This however. is quite different. (‘ommon (iround Sign Dance Theatre's production mixes its deaf and hearing performers in creating a prequel to the Tempest. dealing with the younger years
of the colonised slave and daughter of the shipwrecked patrician magician of the title. (iigantic. frightening l()ft hiin puppets represent their parents. and even ('aliban's birth is represented. The movement is good. and the driving pet‘ctission and sax accompaniment gives the piece an atavistic feel. This is an enjoyable spectacle. although whether it really has much to say about the eponymous characters is a tnoot point. (Steve (‘rameri
Camino Real l)oul)/e [1.(T‘H(’T)I‘(llllll. The (,'II(T(’I'T)(’TT_\'. [Hill] 26 Aug. J’pnt. Byron. ('asanova and a boxer meet in a Mexican border town.
Casanova Sits/tee! (‘u/ture. George Square Theatre. [7-26 Aug. 3.15pm. Politics might bore you. and sport might not be your scene. but everyone loves a blether about sex. and this Suspect (‘ulture production. directed by (iraham liatough froin a script by David (ireig. is liable to set you nattering. First produced earlier this year in (ilasgow. the play represents an intelligent and sometimes provocative discourse on male sexuality. throuin the semi-mythic figure of the title. In this recast version. (‘asanoi'a is a collector of contemporary art.
54 THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 16—22 Aug 2001
using erotic souvenirs from his many sexual scrapes as exhibits. The play examines both what women and men project upon each other's genders. There's a deal of nudity. but if you can accept that. it's well worth a watch. (Steve (‘ramert
The Case (‘rai'en Image Theatre. (' H3. 1‘) ‘26 Aug. 11.15am. A chance encounter on a train is the start of a strong drama. Castaway Cafe Sluttg l.ow Theatre ('o. Ber/lam Theatre. until 25 Aug. 4.30pm. Big cheesy musical about a bunch of young folk starting up a web cafe on the beach. Casting Stones, Waves and Ripples Sheehan l’rmluetions. (iateway Theatre. tattil 27Aug. ll). 15am. ('omedy about manifestations of prejudice against disability in the theatre.
Castradiva Assembly. 20 33 Aug. times vary. The Rome of 1700 where women aren't allowed to perform. so young boys are castrated and sold to the church for their voices. Mitsic and theatre combine. Catastrophe coo ly'omeilia St Step/tens. until 27Aug. times vary. l.atc Samuel Beckett early in the day. (‘an you cope'.’ These three playlets. they really are segments rather than full plays make up the bill that is ('atastrophe. Roekahv is the most substantial. An old woman off her rocker rocks away her life in a rocking chair. l.ike ly'rapp's Last 'lape. much of the show is pre- recorded. Denise livans tises her voice to great effect. My only grumble'.’ She's not really old enough for the part. ()liio Impromptu is about doppelgangcrs as two medieval-ltmking men. dressed identically. and in long-fiow ing wigs. read from a book. Dramatically it's \cry static. btit the final moment when both men look at each other is electrifying. The funniest piece is ('atastrophe. about a megalomaniac director. his female assistant and their human mannequin on a plinth. How far do directors go for cheap cffect'.’ Hard work. but it‘s a short programme and surprisingly full of contrasts. (John Binnicl
The Celtic Drum ()rearlia (‘reatii'e Learning ('etttre. until IS Aug. tintes \‘(ll'_\. ('cltic dance and music show. which includes dialogue from mystics of the culture. Chagal, Chagal Dentureo Roe/vet l’rmluetions. Roeket (0 South Bridge. until IS Aug. [0.30pm. 11 won a l‘ringe l-‘irst last year. but this Belarusian tribute to artist Mark ('hagal is pretty befuddling without a knowledge of the language.
The Chair Assembly Rooms. until 27Aug. 1. /5pm. Stand-tip comedian lan Slacphcrson turns his hand to one-man tragedy in an effort to speed up the death of comedy. Changefing Rooms ll Tlte (‘hange/ing. (' too. until 3/) Aug. 7.4(Ipm. .\'o two shows alike as each audience chooses six short play s frotn a menu of 30. We gave it four stars last year. This year. there's a new cast.
Check Your Coupon (tilt/ml Balloon. (ii/dell Balloon at l’ep/u'rmint lounge. until 27Aug. Ipm. Kathleen Ruddy 's comedy about two old folk trying to scam the pools. l-‘rom (ilasgow 's Rubber liar which has always been a laugh in the past.
A Chip in the Sugar AllA/manl. (ate Roval Fringe Theatre. until 37Aug. /. /()pm. Alan Bennett's brief domestic drama taken from his Talking ll('(ll/.\ series.
A Chorus of Disapproval l'nion Theatre. James (ii/lespie's High Sehool. until IS Aug. 7. l5pm. .-\lan .-\y ckbourn's contemporary spin on John (iay ‘s ribald The Beggar's Opera.
The Circle’s Corners “(Hill/rt) Roeket l’riu/uetions. Roe/.et ((1 St John ‘s Ila/l. until lh’Aug. noon. 'l'ragi-comedy about the uneasy relationship between a teacher and a studt nt.
Cirque Surreal com (‘m/ue Surreal. Tlte .ileiu/on s Theatre li’ig lop. until 36 Aug. litttey l'tll'\'. A celebration of the many nationalities and cultures which base
It is my opinion that bad customers are more prevalant than bad service.
name of Show. page number.
contributed to the development of circus as an art forin. The individual acts. including aerialists. acrobats. dancers and clowns from China. South Africa and Russia. are breathtakingly skilled. but what elevates it is the attention to detail.
City of the Dead lilaek llart .S'tory'tellers'. Royal Mile. net! to Police Iii/armation Centre. until .t’l Aug. times vary. Supernatural chiller as promenade theatre. The Clearing Station 0000 Gilt/ed Balloon. until 27Aug. 3.30pm. From the moment the lights go up on the frantically running form of Dubliner Roisin Kearney. an uncomfortable atmosphere of menace and claustrophobia descends. promising that The ('learing Station isn't going to be an easy ride. And so it proves. as the details of her character Miriam‘s life gather like slowly brewing storm clouds. It starts to look as though she's running to escape the grip of her family history. or to prevent her own young life being crushed under the weight of her grandmother's memories. Kearney reels the audience in and keeps them in the palm of her hand through moments of pin-drop tension and shots of very dark humour as writer and director Joe 0' By'rnc's narrative approaches its powerful conclusion. (Alastair .‘ylabbottl
Closer Than Ever coo ( 'ol/ege of line Arts. l'nivers'ity of'.\'ei'a¢la. [as legas'. The (iarage. until 27Aug. 3.15pm.
[f ('hieken Soup Tor The Soul was put onstage you'd get something like this. In this musical revue l'niversity of Nevada students. inusically directed by Jack (iaughan. perform songs covering heartbreak. fatherhood. heartbreak. friendship. And heartbreak again. You get the feeling that many of these songs were written as a therapeutic way to overcome post break-up blues.
The performers are fantastic singers. Their enthusiasm and the few comic numbers (especially .lliss 11ml) help to hold the audience's attention. However. Robert Brew er's direction lacks originality and it becomes tiring to listen to song after song about lost love when no characterisation or narrative is given. If you like cheesy intisicals give it a try. (Kik Reid)
The Clllb C... (ii/(Tell Ila/loot! (ll 'Iei'iot Row. until 27Aug. 6pm. To my .-\ustralian ear. the accents were a little like Dick Van Dyke cockney. but this shouldn‘t worry a local audience too much. and there's little else to fault in this production. David Williamson's script. detailing a night of wheeling and dealing in the committee room of an .-\ussie Rules football club. glitters with wit and earthy observation. Perhaps the old firms and Man l'nites have got their way these days in turning professional sport into a casino for insestors uninterested in football. but \\'illi;iiiisoii's quarter'- century -old play still has much to say about this blight on any sport. A strong ensemble cast also bring a human. yet still comic dimension to the recognisable assortment of grotesques. players. coaches and committee members alike. who inhabit big money ball games. Recommended and not just to \‘l-‘l. fans. (Steve (’ramerl
The Cocktail Party coo Hes! It) l’rmluetions. (irey/riars Kirk llouse. until 37 Aug. I..i’5pm. \Vest ltl's ability to capture some of the key elements of a very difficult play is admirable. Set. costume and lighting effectively draw out the myth and mystery which underpin the text. The young cast is also generally strong and avoid over- indulging the pretensions which put people off liliot whilst successfully managing to highlight the strength of his humour.