Theatre '
Trouble Pleasance. utttil 27 Aug. lptn. 52- year-old Helen Goodway recounts her true life experience of being told she might have cancer. And she still doesn‘t know. Month Night Tremor Cordis. C too. until 26 Aug. noon. Twelfth Night has often been seen as a holiday. or carnival-spirited show. so its appeal during the festival season remains undiminished.
TWeIfth Night Over the Edge. Augustine 's. until 27 Aug. 7.15pm. Acclaimed five-actor African version of Shakespeare‘s comedy. funny and ingenious. The List gave it four stars last yean
20th Century Legends: The Lives, Loves a. Music of Frank Sinatra 8. Judy Garland Aabacus. .Mett:le.y' Belford Hotel. utitil 27Aug. times vary. Frank and Judy‘s lives explored with songs performed by Jack Jaffe and Cathy McManamon. 20th Century Legends: The Lives, Loves & Music of Rodgers 8. Hart O Aabacus. Menzies Belford Hotel. until 27Aug. titties vary. Disappointing delivery and lack of atmosphere hampers this take of the music of Rodgers and Hart. 20th Century Legends: The Lives, Loves & Music of the Brothers Gershwin Aabacus. [WCIIZTPS Belfot'd Hotel. until 27Aug. titnes vary. (leorgc and Ira Gershwin come under the spotlight. No Diverse Attractions. until [8 Aug. 1.15pm. Popular Jitn Cartwright comedy of working-class cameos.
TWO Rocket Venues. Rocket (0 South Bridge. 16—25 Aug. 2.15pm. Popular Jim Cartwright comedy.
No Daft Lasses in a Boat/A Cat in the Road Middlesbrough Little Theatre Junior Company. Augustine 's. 21—27 Aug. 3.25pm. Comedy double bill. The No Sides of a Star t-.‘.u‘t Theatre. Old St Paul 's Church & Hall. until I 8 Aug. 12.15am. Inspired by film noir. a look at the cut-throat world of l9-i()s llollywoml’s studio system.
“Mo-Times Mann - Satana Demarco Rocket Productions. Rocket (‘1’ Royal College ofSutgeons. until 18 Aug. 7pm. Band of Rogues present this award-winning production.
Unclaimed Assets l'estival Theatre USC— USA. l)rummond Community Theatre. until 25 Aug. 1.30pm. New work from American writer Jennie Webb coupled with 27 Wagons Full of Cotton and This Property is Condemned by Tennessee Williams. Four stars in The Evening News. Three stars in The Scotsman.
Underworld Pleasance.2l Aug. tintes vary. Highly-rated 21st century ghost story from physical theatre co Frantic Assembly. Up ‘n’ Under Blinding Image.
Augustine ’s. 2l-—26 Aug. 6.25pm. John Godher rugby comedy.
Up ‘n’ Under Atomic Theatre. C Venue. until 26 Aug. 9pm. See above.
Upside Down Komedia St Stephens. until 27 Aug. times vary. This new three- hander finds l)o Theatre mining similar territory to 1999’s award-winning Hopeless Games. in a darkly comic blend of weird clowning and pantomime.
Velcro Sync I/O Project Komettt’a .S‘t .S‘tephens. 17—27 Aug. 12.30am. Fabrik- Potsdam in a multi-media show. Verbatim Smurf Productions. (ireyfriars Kirk House. 21—27 Aug. l().()5pm. As a teenager I sneaked a look at a video of real- life executions. This did not turn me into a psychopath btit did show that humans are innately drawn towards the darker side of the psyche. Written by William Brandt. this one-woman play is based upon the actual words of murderers and those who were affected by their crime. Actor Sandi Murphy plays six characters. created from the documentary material. who explore what turns a person into a killer. ‘We all have a stereotypical. impersonal image of the murderer.‘ says director Kate Schoficld. ‘Wc think there‘s one particular type of person. Actually there's not. Anybody can kill. We‘re all physically able to. It depends on the choices we make.’ (Kik Reid) Veronique - A Life Long Cult O... Pluto Productions in association with ()vation. Pleasance. until lh’ Aug. 5pm. Veronique is a showcase for the considerable musical skills of Jessica Martin. She is the genuine article. a masical comedy star of the first magnitude. Accompanied by a versatile solo piano. Martin belts tunes out with panache and gusto. then instantly sings a haunting ballad like Blame It On My Youth with poignant yearning. And she‘s a tremendous mimic Mae West. Barbra Streisand. l.i/.a and Bette. she does them all. If] have one grumble. it‘s that Jessica Martin is too young for the role. If only the material reflected her own life. age and concerns more. it could be a one- woman musical which would make you laugh. cry and understand the world better. Still it's a chalice in a lifetime. (ilory in sitting close to a diva at the height of her powers. (John Binnie)
The Very Nearly Love Life Of My Friend Paul P/easance. until 27Aug. times vary. Comic play about a seven-times engaged man with commitment problems. The Virtuous Burglar ( ‘rumpet Theatre Co. Rocket (0 St John 's Hall. 20 25 Aug. 4.25pm. Dario lio‘s farcical exploration of deceit.
The Visionary Rocket Venues. Rocket (0 Kirk ()'l-‘ield. until I‘lAug. 6pm. l'nusual love story about a girl sharing her thoughts with a man only she can see.
Viva La Diva Pleasance. until 27 Aug. I..i()ptn. Jean Boht assumes the role of real- life American songbird in a comedy by Chris Ballancc.
Voices I-‘unny l'is/t Ptotluctions. Augustine 's, until 1‘) Aug. H.2(lptn. American writer Susan (iriffin‘s play about
The Vortex 20th Century Blues. C too, until 26 Aug. 11.45pm. The play that made Noel Coward‘s name. not least for its references to drugs. adultery and homosexuality.
The Wake Pleasance. until 27Aug. 11.20am. Impromptu Productions in a comedy about a family hell bent on success. Walking Amongst Sleepers theatre
ll'orkshop and Pleasance. Theatre
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72 THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 16-2? Aug 2001
Workshop. until 25 Aug. times vary. Popular deaf actress Caroline Parker collaborates with writer Jamie Beddard to create a play with thriller plot with signed songs. Three stars in The .S'cotsman.
The Wallace Theatre Alba mpt: l)uddingston Kirk Manse Garden. until 26 Aug. 8pm. (ireat out-of-town location for Sydney (ioodsir Smith‘s poetic historical drama. staged by Charles Nowosielski's Musselburgh-based company.
Watching Bare and Ragged Theatre. Rocket (a~ South Bridge. until I 8 Aug. 8pm. Devised drama about dreams.
Weekend in Rio O. Pleasance I)otne. until 27Aug. 4.30pm. Set on an aeroplane. Steven liroclich‘s’ new comedy is something of a bumpy ride. following mother from hell. Sugar on the hunt for her wayward wooden mannequin son (don‘t ask) who‘s stolen her money and buggered off on a flight to Rio with his two loud/foul- mouthed girlfriends.
Weird Romance and Le Boeul sur Ie Toit l'estiva/ Theatre USC — USA. I)rumtnond Ctnnmunity Theatre. until 24 Aug. 9.45pm. Musical double bill of the .‘ylilhaud/Cocteau fantasy and the Menken/Spencer/Brennert sci-f1. Welcome to Paradise Two 'lonne Budgie Productions Inc. (t'reyfriars K ll'lv' llouse. until 27Aug. 5.35pm. Tales of an linglish traveller in outback Australia. West Side Story Strut/ord Music Centre. C lenue. until 18 Aug. 10am. You can't go far wrong with the classic Bernstein and Sondheim musical tragedy. What Comes Up, Must Come Down Heathant Youth Theatre. 1/1150.
2/ 25 Aug. 2pm. Drug and dance culture examined by those closest to it.
What the Hell Was That! 12 Int-hes. Holyrood Till't’t'tl. until 18 Aug. 6.30pm. Three lads in search of dance. drink and
What You Really Want
Real Tlllt’lil. Pleasance. until 27Aug. 3.30pm. New comedy about a man marketing soft drinks who is plagued by strange events. Stars stand-ups Trevor l.ock. Phil Nichol and Sarah Kendall. Three stars in The Scotsman.
Whispers in the Wood t‘v’t/TS. (' Belle Attgele. until 26 Aug. 5.15pm. Dark thriller about a journalist looking into the case of a girl accused of murder. Three stars in The Evening News.
White Van Man ll'isepart Prmluctions. C l,"II(l(’tjg'/‘()ltli(l. until 26 Aug. 6pm. New play about a Sun-reading urban philosopher. Three stars in The .S'cotstnan.
The Whole Shebang eooee Assembly Rooms. until 27 Aug. 2.50pm. Jack Klaff is back with another gift of a one man show. The South African actor. storyteller and digresser poses questions about what are we. who are we and at what point does art meet science'.’ Klaff fills every corner of the stage with his twisting tale in a touching. vital humanistic drama. Wild Raspberries Freeway- Stage. Assembly Rooms. 21 Aug. 3pm. Elizabeth Maclcnnan reads her own new. ecologically-minded play about a young girl worried for her grandmother who has been put in a home.
Win, Win, Win! O. Rational liladness. Komedia .S‘outhsitle. until 26 Aug. 4.15pm. Hit and miss tragi-comedy consisting of a management training-style lecture.
Wiping My Mother’s Arse eeee ‘I‘raverse Theatre. until 25 Aug. times vary. liew playwrights since Joe ()non have put the conventions of the well-made play to such scurrilous use as lain lleggie. It could be an Alan Ayckbourn were it not for the involuntary bowel movements. anal sex and the emotional damage. l‘ringe First and Herald Angel winner.
Witness Me halfway~nowhere. The (x'tulerln'lly. until 26 Aug. 11.30pm. Warick l'nivcrsity students in a physically demanding vision of the effects of trauma. Winner of a Sunday 'Iimes physical theatre award. Four stars in The Scotsman. Woman in Mind Edinburgh People 's Theatre. St Peter 's Church Hall. 21—25 Aug. times vary. ()ne of Alan Ay'ckbourn's darker
comedies about a woman‘s mental breakdown.
The World is Just About Enuff! The Changeling. C too. until 26 Attg. 6pm. James Bond spoof.
The World’s Wile Midas Productions. Bed/ant Theatre. until 25 Aug. I 1.30am. Carol Ann Duffy's poetry staged. Wrecked l'it'ogntoullt Productions Australia. Komedia Rontan [fog/e l.otlge. until 26 Aug. 9.05pm. Atistralian black comedy double-bill.
The Year of the Monkey eeee Claire I)owie. Kotnedia Roman [fag/e lodge. until 26 Aug. 7. ()5pm. It's difficult to imagine Claire I)owie schmooling the award ceremonies with a glass of champers in one hand and a glib smile on her lips. And that‘s not because this show is undeserving of attention. but because of the distaste it evidences with the bland nicetics of conversation and the stultifying conventions of society. I)owie prefers the things that fall outside of the ordinary. and the three monologues that make up her piece of ‘stand-up theatre‘ concern themselves with people who. for one reason or another. chose not to follow the herd. She gives an engrossing performance. and these tales of vengeful women. hilariously Utopian council estates and frustrated mothers are chilling. fascinating and very. very funny. (James Smart)
Yerma Assembly Roonts. 20—26 Aug. l()am. l'erma is an acknowledged theatre classic. its reputation relying on its status as a student text rather than any celebrated production. Surprisingly. l.orca‘s play. about an isolated. childless woman. has received one major [K revival in liifth Amendment‘s production. adapted by award winning Nigerian playwright Biyi Bandele: "Theatre Chipping Norton approached me three years with a literal translation of the play in mind. but I wanted to approach it differently.‘ he says. It was then that Bandele noticed the similarity between Yerma‘s situation and the stigma attached to childless women in modern day Northern Nigeria. He presented a draft script to director Chuck Mike and assembled a company who rehearsed over three weeks. Bandele admits this was a period of uncertainty. ‘We had to find a voice that I felt was sympathetic to l.orca's intentions that could also articulate Northern Nigeria‘s sensibilities. lt seems to have worked.‘ (Allan Radcliffe)
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown American High School Theatre l-i'stival. Church Hill Theatre. I 7 -22 Aug. times vary. The highs and lows of growing tip with Charlie Brown and friends.
You’ve Been Wonderful Fresh Blood Theatre. C Belle Ange/e. until 25 Aug. 2.45pm. A barbershop chorus wrestles with destiny. ambition and harmony.
Zipper 1 Zapper o Zipper: Theatre ll’orkshop. until I 8 Aug. 10.30pm. What a missed opportunity. ()ne of the very few totally signed shows at this year‘s Fringe turns out to be the most self indulgent. boring. overlong vanity pieces I have ever had the misfortune to see. This is allegedly the story of one man‘s search for a way to express music in sign language. What it actually is a lazily conceived dance piece. A young lady presses a remote control to make a man sign to the songs that are played on the PA (everything frotn Bowie to Dutch folk music). Meanwhile another woman dances badly round the stage also signing along to the songs. This Dutch/New York production is subtitled ‘liyc Music‘."-- you may have trouble keeping yours open. (Paul Dale)
The Zoo Story Tripod 'I'lteatt-e Co. ( ‘ o2. until 26 Aug. lpm. lidward Albec‘s debut play from 195‘). when he was at the forefront of the American Theatre of the Absurd. about a sinister encounter in Central Park.
For hour, by hour daily listings see
Listings Supplement.