Theatre
3?.‘The total guide to total theatre
FESTIVAL THEATRE
The festival warms up I Ride Splendid. funny and subtle drama which boasts two very observant performances. A painful observation of the acute emotional dilemmas in sexual relations. Assembly Rooms, 226 2428, until 26 Aug, 6.30pm, $70—$77 (ESQ—£70). I Horse Country CJ Hopkins' two-hander sees two suited men reflecting upon American life through the filter of their culturally repressive experience of it. Through Beckettian reflection and the painstaking deflection of the realities of their situation, the two produce an inadvertent We’ve all done it sometime. But Jane Bodie’s play about the sudden jolt of waking up with someone you commentary on a decadent have no recollection of sleeping with goes further. For after waking, the couple at the centre of this coitore. Both funny and astutely observed social comedy still have absolutely no idea how they met. challenging. this is well worth Underneath the comic minutae of bedroom ethics With an improper stranger, there’s a more primal the ticket, Assemb/y Rooms, subtext, to do with heat and tailing rain and the unseen rhythms of city life. Splendid performances by 225 2428’ Um” 25 Aug, noon, Todd MacDonald and Fiona MacLeod sect Bodie’s own direction off a treat. And if the denouement is a £9_£70 (5&59). little perplexing, this is still a high priority in a busy festival. (Steve Cramer) , I lamina. 2262/1549, i.) ~ iv. Aug, 1. Wm, l‘l()~lfll rife—1‘10). ' Cr?“ 5%“ Kanes ,
beautiful, spare and elegiac writing is set off skilfully by this young and enthusiastic company. A play for four voices. it’s about the alienation of individuals in an individualistic culture. Timed and acted to perfection. Underbelly, 0870 745 3083, until 25 Aug (not 27 ), 7.05pm, until 77 Aug, 77.30am, 26—53760 (ES—£6. 50).
I Victory at the Dirt Palace The Riot Group is back at its best with this loose adaptation of King Lear, with original quotes, basing it in the contemporary American media. The story of a father and daughter who anchor for rival TV channels. there's a sense of Baudrillardian satire in its handling of terrorism and tragedy. The dense and witty I Ian uage is compelling. The PUNTER SCHOICE 633399, 227 9009, uni/26 Aug, 7.30pm, £6 (£5). I Happy with Halt your
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Enough of the pundits, what are highly recommended since it's so , . , the ticket buyers saying? funny and is a good start to the day. Lue vanessa Ne!“ 8 one- Jill Worsley, a student working at Measure of a Milkman (Pleasance. Woman Show ,dlsplays an C Venues The best thing We seen so until 26 Aug) was brilliantly performed. elegant deXter'ty W'th Charade” far is Cock and Bull (C. until 25 Aug) although they should have kept their and emOt'Ona' come)“ Th's which is based on a novel by Will Self. 45 minutes of good writing as that Story Of a Young AUStrahan It is very good. weird. physical theatre instead of stretching it to an hour. woman StUleng in London and slick and professional. I have also Richard Stamp, a computer WhO iS Called Upon to Care for seen The Black Sheep (C. until 25 engineer l have only seen the a succession of elderly folk is Aug) which was very funny. Chinese State Circus so far (Meadows full of observation about life Patricia Hartshorne and Michael Theatre Big Tops. until 24 Aug) and l and the passing of time. Gilded Elphick Club Mozart with Rainer really enjoyed it. The best thing they Balloon Tet/jot, 226 2757, until Hersch, (Assembly Rooms. until 26 did were the simplest things Since 25 Aug (not 79-20), 530me Aug): the stand-up lTlUSlC was they made it all look so effortless. Last 98.50.539.50 (9750.28.50) absolutely brilliant. Shakespeare for year I saw Macbeth (Greyfriars Kirk
Cock and Bull: slick and weird Breakfast (C. until 25 Aug) has to be Yard. until 23 Aug) which was great.
1).” A..<: 1/"! ." THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 55