Festival Theatre
www.|ist.co.uk/theatre
Miracle in Rwanda eee The 1994 genocide. which resulted in the deaths of almost one million people in only l00 days. forms the backdrop to the powerful and uplifting tale of lmmaculee llibagiza's survival. Forced to hide in a tiny toilet for three months with seven other Tutsis in order to escape torture and death at the hands of the Hutu militia. Leslie Lewis Sword inhabits the character of lmmaculee (and every other character) in this slightly one-dimensional but nevertheless entrancing. one-woman show. (David Laing) Gilded Balloon Teviot. 668 I633. until 27 Aug (not 20), 3pm. £8—[9 (£7-£8). James II by Douglas Maxwell .0 This tragic tale features a schizophrenic king who recounts the events leading up to the murder of the eighth Earl of Douglas. Based on historical facts. the action unfolds as James‘ wife plays a pseudo Lady Macbeth. encouraging the King's dire deeds. Set in the majestic Rosslyn Chapel. there's sadly little to live up to the surroundings here. in a play that wobbles between drama and pantomime. (David Laing) Rosslyn Chapel. 445 4023. until 25 Aug (not [9). 7.30pm. [10. Mile Ind 000 Examining the darker side of life that lurks in dreams. sinister shadows and our own minds we meet one man who has an unsettling nightmare. seeing a red scarf on the tracks. When his wife comes home with the same scarf he begins to take notice. It looks at warning signs. fate and mental illness using film. lighting and shadows to great effect. An original idea. creatively directed that perhaps relies too much on the visual. stunning as this may be. (Greer Ogston) Pleasance Dome. 556 6550. until 27 Aug (not 20. 22). 2.30pm. £8—£9 (£6.50—£7.50). 'l’he Rocket 00 Richard Walker’s one-man. two character. show begins with Simon. a war correspondent, sharing his views on war and the suffering he has seen in Baghdad. No amount of Scotch can make up for the never-ending ‘racket‘. The second half looks at free spirit Kenny. who has a more fantastical view of the world. As their connection unravels you begin to question your own views. Competently delivered. it's unfortunate that this piece has nothing new to offer on the subject. (Greer Ogston) The Zoo. 662 6892. until 27 Aug. 5.15pm. £6.50 (£5 ). Special .00 This provocative play. which deals with power. trust and love. offers an insight into one couple's increasingly adventurous foray into S&M. The sexual acts are graphic. so this is not for the easily embarrassed. However. this is not sordid sex. it‘s love between a trusting and committed couple. The piece looks at how you can hurt someone both physically and mentally and the pleasure that pain creates. it's a love story with a kick. (Greer Ogston) Assembly Universal Arts. 623 3030. until 27 Aug (not [5). 7.15pm. [ll—£IZ(£10—£ll). Attempt 3.4 O. A group of young enthusiastic actors attempt to create their own city from nothing. Their high energy levels and creative characters are fun to watch for the first ten minutes. but you can't help but feel they are enjoying themselves more than we are as they parade around naked. share confessions. dance and converse. However. with no two nights exactly the same. you never
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know what you‘re going to get. (Greer Ogston) C cubed. 0845 260 [234. until 27 Aug. 9.45pm. £6.50—£8.5() (£5.5()—£7.50). The Pitch 00 As audiences desen the theatre in favour of cinema. could this one-man show provide the answer? A screenwriter has an hour to rewrite his script and plan a pitch before presenting to studio executives. Taking on all the roles. from Catherine Zeta-Jones to Anthony Hopkins. Peter Houghton acts out the Bond-style film. complete with sound effects and bouts of manic fitting. His skill lies in the impressions. but bar his Dustin Hoffman impersonation. even those weren't that impressive. (Nicola Husband) Assembly Rooms. 623 3030. until 27 Aug (not 20). 2.10pm. {ll—£12
( £10-£ I l ).
Red State .0. in an An'zonian drying-out clinic. a guilt-ridden US. army veteran receives some visitors from his past. if you like clear-cut narratives. you'll be severely disappointed. Asking big questions. like how far someone would go to preserve the image of a perfect America and fuel hate for those who threaten it. while highlighting the mental effects of war and the need for belief in a higher entity. this piece is big on ideas and doesn‘t suffer from its lack of resolution. (Nicola Husband) C Soco. 0845 260 [234. until 27 Aug (not 20). 7.45pm. £8.50—£9.50 (£7.50—f8.50). Anti-Ageing, Loolt Better, Feel Better, Live Better coo Has Scotland spawned its next Gillian Mckeith? Join Elizabeth Roddick for this seminar that tells you all the things you know already and choose to ignore about living a healthy life. it's not easy to take what someone says seriously while they‘re dressed like Angela Rippon in her Come Dancing days and jumping around to Abba on a mini trampoline. Her words stay with me as I head off for a recuperatory hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows. (Nicola Husband) The Green Room. 220 0885. until 26 Aug. 11.40am. £6—£ 7 (£5-£6).
Phil Jupltus It Andre Vincent: Waiting for Alice coo The title tells the more literate everything they need to know about this piece. For its peculiar mix of Beckett and Lewis Carroll
makes a link between two different eras of
absurdism and surrealism. in it. two performers. Dee and Dum. dressed in Edwardian tweeds. await their assignation
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An Audience With Adrienne
With Alice from Through the lxmklttg (ilas‘s‘. They pass the time with a bit of casual abuse. and references to “outside'. meaning perhaps the theatre or the story they are contained iii. This is a lightly entertaining piece with a final message about falling literacy in the hi-tech era. though whether it amounts to anything very profound is a moot point. (Steve Cramer) Assembly Rooms. 623 30.“), until 26 Aug (not 20). 6.15pm. [Ll-[I5 (£13414).
Johnson and Boswell - Late But Live 0.. We're presented with a modern day chat show starring James Boswell. whose guest is none other than his revered Dr Johnson. He gives an account of the pair's Highland tour of I773 quite at variance with Boswell‘s. We might speculate about the question of who owns a life. the biographer or his subject as a question at the heart of Stewart Lee‘s piece featuring Simon Munnery‘s Johnson and Miles Jupp‘s Boswell. but it's mainly a clever. fast and funny evening with a pair of old hands on the comedy circuit which doesn't say very much. but which does so amusingly. (Steve (‘ramerl Traverse. 228 1404. until 26 Aug (not 20), 10.30pm. [I I—[I6 ([5).
An Audience With Adrienne
.0. This show makes for an endearing evening with an extremely personable performer. which. within Theo Clinkard‘s fluffy. camp lounge room set. is likely to bring you some pleasant memories and the odd melancholic thought. In it. performance artist and drag queen Adrian Howells interacts with us. his own personal memories gently acting as a catalyst to our own confessions. which we share with him. The early humour of the show. which once or twice errs a little on the side of seaside bawdiness. gives way to a quietly moving tale of depression undiagnosed and the kind of homophobia one had hoped our culture had transcended. We're included in family reminiscences. and even invited to participate in some arts and crafts. in a gentle and at times very moving evening of entertainment. (Steve C tamer) Traverse 5: The Medical School. 228 I404. until 23 Aug (not 20), 7pm. [ll—£16lf5). Bavenhill For Breakfast ooo
With a new 30-minute play every morning. breakfast doesn't get much fresher. While all the plays are connected. they each stand alone as a 30 minute
rehearsed reading. Woman in 1.4” t‘ tells the story of a dying man iii hospital and those closest to him. :\ venous issue with dashes of humour. this gentle yet touching piece is worth brav ing a Fringe hangover ltw.l(hcer()gshntlltuteru; 223 [404. until 26 Aug (not 20;. ‘J J‘lltllll. l..
I, Lear .0. Two bumbling actors (Andrew Jones and ('iaran Murtagh) share their wisdom of the theatre. including tricks of the trade such as marmite tip the nostrils (or upset and spray cream foaming at the mouth for anger. lhcy teach us techniques from the likes of Stanislav ski. Williams and Brecht culminating in their ultimate cvamplc ol acting. Lear. combining all of the above sty Ics with hilarious results .-\ lighthearted. fun piece of idiocy.
((ireer ()gstonl .Ilsvenililv‘t" St (fringe 'v “2'31. 62.“ AWAY). until 2.":lug (nut 20). .l.lll[)tll. U) t/(ltlo’ {9). Famous Last Words oo poets aiid a soldier face their mortality as
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an angry mob draw s ever closer to the castle in which they are hiding. 'l'hc soldier wants to die fighting and the poets w ish to die writing. but before they go. they all want to tell their stories and leave their mark on the world. Dealing with fear. friendship and love. this is art easy to watch yet fairly tinniciiiorable drama. ((ircer ()gstonl Roman ling/e Lodge. 226 7207. unit/slug I‘l. 7.25pm. [8 t to. 5!) l.
Apollo/Dionysus ooo 'Naketl‘. l\ the first word that springs to mind btit prurience is slowly replaced by curiosity as philosophical questions are posed: about right and wrong. good and bad. religion. lov c and family. This piece examines the age-old relationship between man and god. l)iony stis. god of wine and fertility. is summoned along with Apollo. god of order and reason. by the child who signifies mankind. Becoming slightly repetitive towards the end. it will make you squirm and smile in equal measure. ((ircer ()gston) (‘ ('lll’l'tl. 0845 260 I234. until 27xlug. ll/mi. [7.501950 (16.50» [8.50). Age of Angels ooo explores one cataclysmic moment where ten lives collide. The school kids' ball
This piece
goes over the fence and across a busy
road. beginning an unstoppable chain.
()ne actor tells the story from multiple perspectives. creating each character in exquisite detail and providing an intricate glimpse of their lives from the inside otit.
A rail of clothes adorns a near empty
stage. which gradually become cast aside
as each character is revealed. It's a slow starter which evolves into an addictive
thriller. ((ireer ()gston) .‘th’Itl/ll)‘ Rooms,
62.? 3037). until 27Aug. 5. /5pm. [ll » [/2 tflU~£llL
Denied O The continued threat of terrorism across the UK. combined with a heightened awareness of honour killings. ' form the basis for a play that attempts to question the beliefs that cause some ‘ lslatnic women to be denied what most would consider basic human rights. Here the stories of a young white [English girl ' and a similar Middle Eastern Muslim are ; juxtaposed. eventually becoming intertwined. Superficial. and lacking I subtlety. this clunky multimedia piece descends into confusion and completely fails to satisfy. (David Laing) C Cubed. 0845 260 [234. until 27 Aug. 8.15pm. l [850—1950 (£7.5()-£8.50). i