Theatre
Hour by hour recommendations for the best festival theatre. Fringe box office: 226 0000. International Festival box office: 473 2000.
11am
Traverse plays A different running order each day tnot Mon i. but at around ll.l5am you're likely to see Stella liechily 's Dark II. .Tim ('rotich's .lli A rm 0... . Heather Raffo's .Vine Party of l)e\ire II. . Henry Adams' The People .Vett I)oor I... . 'l‘tiltl by an Idiot's Playing the l'it'tim and (iregory Burke's The Straits 0..
Look out too for Day id llarrower's Hark [forth I... atid the People Show 's "(l/H' .litttt'. Traverse. ilalt'\ ttlttl times vary;
Pickle II. New Zealand's lndian Ink company returns with a play abotit a woman who married a dog. It's as tliotigli Salman Rushdie had written an episode of l'tllt'lll‘ Towers. Assembly Rooms. until 25 Atig (not Tue). II.45am.
No Fear 0.. Mitch lo\ ed actor Linda Marlowe iii a freewheeling atittibiographical tale that takes iii everything from Marilyn Monroe to drug running. Assembly Rooms. until 25 Aug.
Boy Steals Train 0000 True life tale of a now imprisoned New Yorker with an obsession with stealing public transport. Honest atid well performed. Assembly Rooms. until 25 Aug (not Tue). [2.25pm.
“twelve Angry Men 0000 A collection of the l-‘ringe's most hiin profile comedians take a turn at the popular courtroom drama. .-lssentli/y- Rooms. until 25 Aug. [2.30pm.
1pm
Pugilist Specialist moo That expert in high-octane theatre. the Riot (ii‘otip. sets its sights on the American war machine. Tough. iii-density writing with a forceful political edge. Pli'thlIlt't'. until 25 Aug. I. l5pm.
2pm
The Argument - A Family Portrait 0”” A grotesque family portrait that moves from the comic to the pathetic. ending up being deeply moving. iixquisite entertainment. Assembly Rooms. until 25 Aug. 2. IUpm. Playing for Reward coo
Popular stand-up Paul Tonkinson branches otit into a play about a btisker. (ii/iletl Balloon. until 25 Aug. 2.15pm. Cirkus Inferno ooo Noisy and exuberant clown show for the w hole family. The .l'lt'tlllttll‘S Studio Big 'lop. until 25 Aug. 2.30pm.
Hideaway .00. Return Visit of Qtiiconque's acclaimed physical theatre portrait of people on the run. I’leasant'e Dome. until 25 Aug. 2.35pm.
Tails you Lose New play by well- thought of writer John Finnemore. l’leas‘anee. until 25 Aug. 2.45pm. After Sex all the Animals are Sad Black comedy about the darker side of society. C. tutti! 24 Aug. 2.50pm.
3pm
Blowing It oooo Rough edged comedy from New Zealand about an undercos er cop who gets hooked on dope. Mtisctilar and dextrous. A syemhly Rooms. until 25 Aug. 3.05pm.
Partly it’s About Love, Partly it’s About Massacre coo Black comedy about the dark side of Ios e and starring Jacqueline l.inke. Assemth Roomy. until 25 Aug. 3. Ill/mi. Thebans II. l.i/ Lticlihetttl is reunited with theatre babel iii an attempt to recreate the magic of .lleilea from a couple of years ago. .‘lHt'ItllllY Roomy. until 24 Aug (not Mon). 3. /5pm.
The Town of Mice coo
Intriguing wordless performance in which instruments are fashioned otit of household objects. 'l‘echnically lltlpt'cssiyc. (itttt'ii'tti Theatre. l4~ 25 Aug. It).3(),mi.
Trick Boxing .00. A dancer turns championship boxer in this high-octane physical comedy. (ii/ileil li’alloon li'i‘iot. until 25 Aug. 3.30pm.
The Pickled King iintertaining show about a loy'eable king's attempt to escape from a sis-foot jar of y inegar. (ii/iletl Balloon. until 25 Aug. 3.45/mt.
4pm
Islands in the Stream see.
The ctilt St Petersbtirg company Derey'o brings another slice of its dreamy s istial theatre to town. Note the show has been mos ed to St Stephens from the Assembly Rooms. St Stephens. until 25 Aug. times vary.
Hilt 0... Sex comedy by Jane Bodie. author of last year’s Ritle. about a couple hiding behind an all-consuming consumer culture. l’leasance Dome. until 25 Aug (not l2). 4pm.
Icaro 0 ('harming one-man show. acclaimed the world over. about a patient who dreams of escape. Assembly Rooms, until 24 Aug. 4. IUpm.
Thick 000 Kitsch black comedy by one of the stars of Jerry Springer the Opera. Jong/eurs ( 'omeily' ( 'lub. until 25 Aug. 4pm.
English Journeys oooo Blair's Britain dissected by Steyen Waters. Nicely performed and bleakly atmospheric. it insestigates the blank space left by 20 years of apoliticality. l’leasanee. until 25 Aug (not Tue). 4.20pm.
Last of the Red Hot Dadas
III (‘elebration of the asant garde sp\i{it of the early 20th century. (ii/(let! mloon. until 25 Aug tnot I8). 4.30pm.
Those Eyes, That Mouth ooooo The excellent (irid lron Theatre Company with an intimate show performed in an unoccupied llat. A change of venue from the adyertised location. Aherermnliy- I’Iaee. until 25 Aug (not Wed). 5pm and 10pm.
The Typographer’s Dream
.0. Exploration of dreams and who we really are in Adam Rock's new play. I’leas‘anee. until 25 Aug (not Tue).
5. I (hurt.
Def Poetry Jam com The hip street poetry show they're going mad for in New York takes one step closer to
global domination. Assembly Rooms, until 25 Aug. 5.45pm.
0pm
Bird’s Eye View Russia's l)()-'l‘lieatre hopes to make the hat trick after l-ringe liirsts for Hopeless (iamey atid l'psule Donn. .St Stephens. until 25 Aug. times vary.
Shakespeare's Italian Job 0... Culture clash comedy with the inyentiye Malachi Bogdanoy and co. melding oils chic with Shakespearean yerse. (it/iletl li‘alloon. until 25 Aug. 0pm. The Gospel of Matthew 0000 (ieorgc Dillon. an accomplished disciple of the Bcrkolf school of pity sical theatre. iii a one-man account of the life of Jesus. ('. until 24 Aug. 6.20pm.
Thin Walls coo in this delightful New York story. .-l\\t'lttl7l\ Rooms. until 25 Aug tnot Iuei.
\Valls has e ears
6.30pm.
Mental I... The inimitable Jo Brand stars in a two-hander about our attitudes to mental health. Auemhli' Roonn. until 25 Aug. 6.40pm.
7pm
Ladies and Gents see. The hit of the Dublin l-‘ringe comes to a public loo iii lidinbtirgh to tell the story of a politician atid a sex scandal. l’uhlie Toilets. St James l’lat'e. until 23 Aug (not .lloni. 7.15pm. 5'. l5/mi anti 9. l5/im. Meat 0... Falklands War black comedy -ctiiii-(ireck tragedy from lidinbtirgli's tip and coming Nutshell company. (’ntlerhelly'. until 24 Aug (not I‘). 25/. 7.]5/nn.
The Seagull 'l‘he mighty Peter Stein joins forces with l‘iona Shaw. lain (ilen atid Michael Pennington to lake on another ('hekhoy after his stunning success with ('nt‘le lany'a atid The ('herry ()I't'lltll'tl iii prey ious festivals. iidinburgh International Festival. King 's Theatre. until 23 Aug. 7.30pm.
San Diego The gifted Day'id (ireig co- directs his own surreal play about a group of disparate people trying to find meaning iii California. lidinburgh International Festival. Royal Lyceum Theatre. [5— l7Aug. 7.30pm: If). l7mat. 2.30pm.
Hamlet (ieorge Anton stars in (‘alixto Bieto's swift English-language yersion of Shakespeare's great tragedy. lidinbtirgh international l-‘estisal. Royal Lyceum Theatre. 20- 29Aug. 7'.3(hmt; 30Aug. 7pm; 2/. 23. 24. 27 A .i'UAug. 2pm. Talksexshow oooo New age sex gtirti comedy with Volcano 'l‘heatre. Lunacy at its best. ('ntierlielly'. until 24 Aug tnot Sun or .llon i. 7.45pm.
I Chicken - The True Story of a Teenage Gigolo coo l)a\'id Henry Sterry performs a one-man show based on his own experiences as a prostitute in 70s Hollywood haying sex with w ell-to-do women. Assemlily'
Rooms. until 25 Aug. -5!) mi. l
I The Father, the Son and Holy Moses! A middle-aged father brings tip a son who‘s a maths genius in this slapstick comedy from liinlaiid. (iatewar. until 25 Aug. H.15lnn.
I Hurricane .000 (ireat one man show in celebration of the life and times of Alex ‘lltirricane' Higgins. Assembly Rooms. until 25 Aug. 9.25pm.
I Camarilla I... A family's political coiiy'ictions are called into question iii a London under siege from tinknow n bombers in this explosive new drama. ('. until 24 Aug. 9.50pm.
I White Cabin .00. Arresting y'istial theatre from Russia abotit power and desire. St Stephens. until I‘) Aug. 0pm: 2/ ~23 Aug. [pm
1 0pm
I One, No oooo Stispect ('tilture branches out with a music-theatre crossos'er. 'I'rai'erse Theatre. until 23 Aug (not lb’i. It). I5pm. I Matioso ems Mob action in a disused train station. Hill Street Theatre. until 25 Aug (not [3). Il).4()pm.
(ilasgow's
11pm
Gob moo Streetwise poetry. a DJ set and full-on comedy combined. l’leasani'e Dome. until 25 Aug. ll. Ill/int.
Meat is served at the Underbelly, 7pm until 24 Aug
14—21 Aug 2003 THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 59