Theatre '
A Little Night Music 5 of A Productions. The Scotsman Hotel. 17—26 Aug. 8pm. Stephen Sondheim‘s l973 operetta set in tum-of—the-century Sweden. Features ‘Send in The Clowns‘.
Little Shop of Horrors Demarco Rocket Pmductions. Rocket (‘3‘ Royal College of Surgeons. I 9—26 Aug, 7. 30pm. Musical about a plant that grows out of control.
Little Shop of Horrors Stage by Stage Edinburgh Academy. until I 7 Aug, 5.15pm. See above.
Little Voice Harland Hamstrings Theatre C o. The Subway. until I9Aug. 6pm. Entertaining musical comedy by Jim Cartwright about a girl who has an incredible singing voice — but only in the right mood.
Loaded O... .N'XT. Gateway Theatre. until 26 Aug. 8.15pm. Like the identically titled magazine. this is one for the lads. Written by David Bown. winner of the Sunday Times Playwriting Award. this play portrays three car mechanics looking for an easy way to raise cash. Two go on to become the worst robbers since the Scousers in Lock. Stock and Two Stnoking Barrels. With a failing relationship to contend with. boss Pete is too engulfed in grief tojoin in. The acting is so effective that it‘s hard to believe it’s not the Kwik-Fit boys on stage. And Bown‘s outstanding Use of the word ‘Fuck‘ could give Mamet a run for his money. With bullet-like dialogue it's easy to see where the play got its title. (Kik Reid) Locking Horns li’arhorse Prmluctions. Hill Street Theatre. until 27 Aug. 7pm. Drama about aggression and friendship. Lolita British Russian Theatre Project. Rocket @ Royal College of Surgeons. until 18 Aug. times vary. New version of the scandalous novel by Nabokov about the desire of a middle-aged man for a 14-year- old girl.
Look About You The Red Bull Players, The Garage. tutti! [9 Aug. 1.15pm. Political farce set in the Elizabethan era.
Lost Property Monkeys/zine. Cafe Royal Fringe Theatre. 20-26 Aug. 12.05pm. Physical theatre set in a lost property office. Love Among the Tulips Randolph Studio (‘1’ The French Institute. until 18 Aug, 7.30pm. Period drama about Boswell in love.
Love and Happiness Columbia University. The Underbelly. until I 8 Aug. 4.15pm. L'S comedy about a woman's relationship with a married man. Three stars in The Scotsman.
Love and Other Fairytaies eeee Pleasance. until 27 Aug. 5.30pm. See panel.
Love Story of the Century Bare and Ragged Theatre. Rocket (9? South Bridge. until 18 Aug. 9.15pm. Play by Marta Tikkanen about the mind of an alcoholic. Love: Unrequited Eye of the Stortn. Nicolson Square Methodist Church. until 25 Aug. 8pm. Real-life stories of unrequited love turned into an ensemble drama.
Lucid Dreaming Hush Productions. C too, until 25 Aug. 10am. Physical theatre meets cognitive science in a play about the unconscious. Two stars in The Scotsman. Lucky 0.. In Human Form. C Venue. tutti] 26 Aug, l.20pm. Lots of energy and humour from the young West London cast as they tackle Eddie de Oliveira's comedy drama. Lucky. And the cast will improve as the run progresses. Mis-advertised as a gay drama. it is really about two bisexual nineteen year old men. but unfortunately it doesn‘t explore that condition with subtlety or depth. Exploring problems of male self- definition. De Oliveira tells us how the characters are feeling rather than showing us. There is awkwardness on display between the actors as if they don‘t quite connect with the material. it doesn't help that the dramatist plays the lead part and also directs. The world needs a play dealing with the confusions of young male sexuality. but Lucky is not it. A pity cos it is a likeable ensemble on stage whose energy. youth and drive isn't given the chance to shine. The play is too simplistic. (John Binnie) Lyrebird: Tales of Helpmann ooooo Assembly Rooms, until 27Aug. 2.30pm. Lyrebird is a theatrical salute to Australia‘s original Dancing Queen. Sir Robert Helpmann. Set in a dressing room between acts of Don Quixote. this one-man show twists and turns through the highlights (and lowlights) of a vast career dropping names like Smarties only adds to the appeal of the protagonist. As dancer. choreographer. director and actor. Helpmann found fame in London and New York. before returning to Australia as one of the country's greatest stars. Played by Tyler Coppin with raw. unbounded enthusiasm. the 90 minute performance is utterly engaging. What strikes you about Coppin is his intense love of the theatre. This is acting in its most exposed state — and Tyler Coppin excels. (Olivia Wright)
Macbeth Frantic Redhead Prodtu‘tions. Greyfriars Kirk Yard — Main Gates. until 27 Aug. 6.30pm. Accomplished production of Shakespeare's tragedy given added atmosphere by an al fresco performance in Greyfriar's Kirk Yard and beyond. Macbeth O... Gilded Balloon. until 27 Aug. 1.30pm. The castle is a boozer.
Lady Macbeth is a blonde landlady. and Macbeth himself is a sharp-dressed Vinnie
Jones type. A TV above the bar shows video
footage of incidents occurring outwith the
castle. and the three witches are a folk band.
An incredibly well-performed and well- conceived production.
Macbeth Aireborn Theatre Co in assmiation with LUUTG. Stage by Stage Edinburgh Academy. until 18 Aug. 5.40pm. Shakespeare‘s tragedy in a production that makes use of puppets. Mad Dogs and Englishmen Gilded Balloon. until 27 Aug. 3.30pm. A biographical and musical exploration of the paradoxical life of the man with ‘a talent to amUse'. Noel Coward. The Maids Aireborn Theatre Co in association with
L UL'TG. Stage by Stage Edinburgh Academy. until I 8 Aug.
6pm. Jean Genet‘s infamous one-acter about two sisters (played here by men) who mimic
their mistress to tragic consequences.
The Makers Literary Tour Scottish Literary Tour Company Ltd. The Writer 's Museum. until 3/ Aug. 3pm. A dramatist joumey through Scotland‘s literary centuries.
Making Echoes City of London Freemen 's School. Quaker Meeting House. until 18 Aug. noon. Short stories of New Zealand novelist Janet Frame. the woman portrayed in Jane Campion‘s him. An Angel At My Table are adapted for the theatre by Philip Tong.
Malicious Intent Bare and Ragged Theatre. Rocket Cd South Bridge. until 18 Aug. 10.30pm. Acclaimed Fringe veterans Bare and Ragged present a drama about deception and infidelity in a relationship. Man In the Flying Lawnchair 0... Assembly Rooms. until 27 Aug. 3pm. The true story of Larry Walters‘ grand ascent in 1982 to 16,000 feet in at Sears & Roebuck aluminium garden chair. An enormously gifted ensemble cast. the 78th Street Theatre Lab. creates an inspiring piece of drama about shooting for the stars.
Mannequin Fresh Blood Theatre. C Belle
Angele. until 25 Aug. 6. 30pm. Two friends pass a night together amid thoughts of murder and infamy.
Marisol Bare and Ragged Theatre. Rocket (0‘ South Bridge. until 18 Aug, 4.45pm. First
seen here at the Traverse Theatre a few years
ago. Jose Rivera‘s play is a strange fantasy
Tyler Coppin’s 90 minute performance is utterly engaging
Lyrebird: Tales of Helpmann
The Notebook 0. The Proof (EIF) De Onderneming. Atttwerp. Royal Lyceum Theatre. Mon 20—Sat 25 Aug. times vary. Hungarian novelist Agota Kristof‘s critically acclaimed three-part epic. The Notebook. The Proof and The Third Lie told the harrowing story of twin brothers driven apart in a country ravaged by war. Antwerp theatre company. De Onderneming. bring the tale from page to stage for the first time. ‘When I read the trilogy. I was completely blown away. it's notjust a story of identity and separation. the twins‘ fight to survive in WWII. but also a metaphor for Agota‘s own life in war-tom Hungary.‘ explains De Ondememing‘s Gunter Lesage. ‘For me this is one of the most interesting war novels ever written and also one of the most touching.“
The i‘y’otebook begins with the brothers as children. exiled to the countryside. portraying the tyranny and cruelty of a vicious regime through the eyes of children. The second play. The Proof. encapsulates the second and third novels in the trilogy. exploring the aftermath of war and. 40 years later. the brothers' struggle to discover each other. and the truth about their pasts. ‘in Belgium. we say “chicken meat“ to describe something that strikes you. puts you in shock. By the end of the performances. we hope audiences will experience just that.‘ (Olly Lassman)
62 TH! LIST FISTIVAL OUIDI 16-22 Aug 2001
set in a decaying pre-millennial London. Marriage Bill '3 Theatre Co, Old St Paul's Church & Hall. 20-25 Aug. 6.15pm. Not as well known as The Government Inspector. but amusing none the less. Gogol‘s comedy is about five suitors battling for one bride. Master and Margarita Double Edge Drama. The Underbelly. until 26 Aug. 7.45pm. Adaptation of the Bulgakov novel staged by Eton students.
The Matchmaker eee Assembly Rooms. until 27 Aug, 1.45pm. This two- hander has proved popular in Ireland over the past 25 years. but has little of the innovation you seek on the Fringe. Adapted from the novel by John B. Keane. it's a bitter- sweet performance about an elderly gent who sets up blind dates between isolated singles in rural Ireland.
McEwan’s 80/- Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour Scottish Literary Tour Company Ltd. The Beehive Inn. until 3/ Aug. times vary. Jolly pub crawl through 300 years of Scottish writing.
Mchouga-Maboul - A Tale of Extraordinary Madness Simon Elba:- Matrouz. The Garage. until 26 Aug. 8.30pm. The audience gathers round a half-mad. teller jester. musician and comedian. Medea Outlook Productions. Greyfriars Kirk House. until 27 Aug, 8.45pm. Drawing on Seneca‘s play as well as that of Euripides. and incorporating writing by company members. this version of the Greek tragedy features three performers in the title role.
Medea 0. Japan Experience. The Garage. until 27 Aug. 3.45pm.
It is very hard to be critical about a production when you have been introduced to each actor personally after the show has concluded; even harder when you have had the meaning of their name translated for you and shaken each of them by the hand. Yet critical we must be. especially about a show such as this. Whilst Jin Hiroshi may conjure up an occasional vengeful grace in the role of Medea. elsewhere the choreography is cliched and the group movement far from expert. The soundtrack continually grates on the listener as does the shrieked dialogue. It takes some curtain call to expunge such fundamental flaws from the mind of the audience. Whilst this one was impressive. the doubts lingered long after. (Tim Abrahams) Medea ooooo Assembly Rooms. until 25 Aug. 8pm. It‘s that red dress. it‘s not only on the posters that Maureen Beattie cuts an iconographic dash in vivid crimson. All the way through Theatre Babel's stunning production. she is the pulsating centre of blood-red passion. standing out both emotionally and physically from the grey- clad chorus and black-clad adversaries. in Liz Lochhead‘s peerless adaptation of the Euripedes' tragedy. this Medea is nothing if not human. a vigorous life-force. witty. ironic and mad with anger. whose only avenue — and somehow she makes us see her point — is the murder of her own children. A bloody marvel. (Mark Fisher)
Meet The Authors Garry Pmductions. Hill Street Theatre. until 27 Aug. 12.20pm. A historical exploration into how the creative process affected the lives of Louisa May Alcott and Emily Dickinson.
Mental 0... Lynn Ferguson & Stephen Powell. Assembly Rootns. until 2 7 Aug. 9.05pm. Maggie fell into nursing and is now writing a self-help book to escape it. Greg admits he became a nurse to ‘increase his chances of shagging one‘. In this pacy production the actors (Lynn Ferguson and Stephen Powell) slip between crazed and carer. The result is dark and witty.