FESTIVAL THEATRE | Reviews at a Glance
For longer versions of these reviews see list.co.uk/festival
Avenue Q ●●●●● Filthy, furry and fun, not for nothing has this Tony award-winning show titillated the musical-going masses since it hit Broadway in 2003. This Royal Conservatoire of Scotland production is smart and slick, the cast are roundly excellent, with Conor Scully excelling as hapless hero Princeton in search of his ‘purpose’. (Anna Millar) Assembly Hall, 623 3030, until 26 Aug (not 13, 20), noon, £12–£13 (£10–£11). Adam Smith, Le Grand Tour ●●●●● Performed with finesse, what this production is trying to accomplish is mysterious: it’s too serious to be a work of comedic absurdity and too disjointed to be a history lesson. It’s also too smart and has too many good ideas to be considered a flop: but as a theatrical work it is a noble fail. (Michael Cox) Institut Francais d’Ecosse, 225 5366, until 26 Aug (not 12, 19), 3pm, £10 (£8). Bin Laden: The One Man Show ●●●●● Wherever you think this play is going, it quickly goes elsewhere: a clever mixture of political theatre and historical insight, told with a cheeky sense of humour. The result is a production that will infuriate as many as it impresses. It might make some go and research more about the infamous man while others are compelled to storm out of the theatre. (Michael Cox) C Nova, 0845 260 1234, until 26 Aug (not 13), 7.35pm, £9.50–£11.50 (£7.50–£9.50). The Confessions of Gordon Brown ●●●●● Fans of Brown’s hapless charms – with an interest in his rise and fall from power – will doubtless enjoy this well-written one-man piece, played with serious panache by leading man Ian Grieve. The show never quite delivers the revelations, the ‘confessions’ its title alludes to – ultimately challenged, perhaps, to make only a mildly fascinating man’s life truly engaging. (Anna Millar) Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 26 Aug, 1.45pm, £9.50– £12.50 (£8.50–£11.50). Dirty Water ●●●●● Lewd, crude and very broad comedy set in an unnamed Glasgow housing scheme: a whole pile of misogyny, a hefty splat of homophobia and a good dollop of toilet humour. The cast make a good job of bringing their characters to life, and they make the most of playwright John Stuart’s string of self- consciously dirty monologues and bad taste jokes. (Miles Fielder) theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall, 510 2384, until 24 Aug (not 11, 12, 18), 8.10pm, £8 (£6). Everyman ●●●●● God may give the audience a sharp telling off; there may be singing and dancing. A journey through the life of the eponymous Everyman, who represents all of mankind, the show takes the audience on a wildly entertaining, yet emotional journey through the contradictions, wants and failures of man, creating a piece that is a joyous celebration of humanity and a triumph of physical theatre. (Amy Taylor) Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, until 25 Aug (not 12), 10.50am, £9–£10 (£8–£9). Grounded ●●●●● Snared in a murky glass cage in the middle of the room, a pilot / mother / wife soars through a compelling monologue of how she ended up in her grey, concrete trap. Themes of excessive surveillance and modern warfare are on-topic and Grounded delivers a punch to the gut as our role of confidant is turned, guiltily, on its head. (Kirstyn Smith) Traverse, 228 1404, until 25 Aug (not 12, 19), times vary, £17–£19 (£6–£14). Have I No Mouth ●●●●● Have I No Mouth features real-life mother and son Ann and Feidlim Cannon and their real-life psychotherapist. It muddies the distinction between reality and memory as the trio argue about the details of Feidlim’s father’s preventable death. Equal parts macabre, disturbing and bleakly witty, the warmth between the trio lends heartwarming overtones to a 86 THE LIST FESTIVAL 8–15 Aug 2013
Bin Laden: The One Man Show
difficult but evocative piece. (Kirstyn Smith) Traverse, 228 1404, until 25 Aug (not 12, 19), times vary, £17–£19 (£6–£14). Higgs ●●●●● The lecture falls between two stalls – it reflects more a general excitement about what humanity might be about to learn than much about the nature of that knowledge. Ironically, it is a perfect snapshot of the response of many artists to science’s advances: something is happening here, it is beautiful, exciting but mysterious. (Gareth K Vile) Summerhall, 0845 874 3001, until 17 Aug (not 12), 8.20pm, £10 (£8). Hooked ●●●●● Hooked is a memorable, thoughtful performance. Based on the narrative poems of Canadian writer Carolyn Smart, the show’s loose theme is that of women enthralled by men who are not good for them: Nicky Guadagni’s portrayals are haunting. It’s not always easy to watch, or to empathise, but this is a show that tackles difficult themes without flinching. Highly recommended. (Kirsty Logan) Sweet Grassmarket, 243 3596, until 25 Aug (not 7, 14, 21), 10.30pm, £8. How To Make A Killing in Bollywood ●●●●● Glasgow theatre company NLP disappoint with this poorly scripted show that starts out as a fun musical-comedy but comes unstuck as it attempts to develop more serious themes. The highlights by far are the joyous song and dance sequences that appear out of nowhere in authentic Bollywood style, but these become fewer and briefer as the show progresses. (Paul Gallagher) Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, until 26 Aug (not 10, 11), 3pm, £10.50–£11.50 (£9.50–£10.50). Kiss Me Honey, Honey! ●●●●● Andy Gray and Grant Stott must have jumped at the chance to play the multiple roles in this new play from Philip Meeks (last year’s Murder, Marple and Me).The script successfully dances from riotous cross-dressing slapstick to poignant reflection and back, and both actors pitch their performances perfectly, milking the big laughs but playing the serious moments with understatement. (Paul Gallagher) Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, until 26 Aug (not 12), 6.45pm, £12.50–£13.50 (£11.50–£12.50). Measure for Measure ●●●●● Theatre Oikos’ take on one of the densest of Shakespeare’s works is vibrant and zippy, if a little uneven. A bold decision indeed turning Shakespeare into a gangster tale, and the fresh-faced ensemble have energy and sass to spare – with Arctic Monkeys, a pinch of street slang and sovereign rings too. (Lorna Irvine) Zoo Southside, 662 6892, until 10 Aug, 5.50pm, £7.50 (£5). Men ●●●●● The complexities of the human condition and the real cost of abuse, Men presents the story of a man regularly emotionally abused by his partner Syrus (Tom Rawlinson). An unflinching look at abuse and human nature, Miriam Battye’s script presents a number of interesting points about self-help and self-sabotage. Hard- hitting, tense, strong piece from a promising young company. (Amy Taylor) Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, until 26 Aug (not 14), 12.05pm, £9 –£10 (£8–£9). Mercy Killers ●●●●● This searing one-man show manages to make politics personal, largely thanks to a heartbreaking performance from leading man, Broadway actor Michael Milligan. What could have been painfully simplistic or horribly over-played, is executed with considered pace here, as all its devastating detail unfolds. (Anna Millar) Assembly Hall, 623 3030, until 26 Aug, 2.45pm, £8–£10 (£7–£9). One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest ●●●●● This adaptation occupies new territory, an almost complete gender reversal of the cast: all but a few ancillary characters are played by women, lending a new dynamic. Fourth Monkey should be commended for putting forth a version of Cuckoo’s Nest that attempts to hold its own against more familiar predecessors, but ultimately this production stumbles. (Niki Boyle) theSpace on Niddry Street, 510 2383, until 24 Aug, 8.20pm, £11 (£8.50). Roughs ●●●●● This is Samuel Beckett like no other – completely apposite for our troubled nation. D’Animate’s fresh approach to theatre proves that Beckett can still startle and captivate – and with the controversial bedroom tax looming large, his dark political motifs sadly remain pertinent. Roughs is no easy ride, yet is utterly humane. (Lorna Irvine) Zoo Southside 662 6892, until 26 Aug, 4.35pm, £9 (£7). Sandpits Avenue ●●●●● Boneyard Theatre’s debut production examines the impact of war on a soldier returning home, through folk songs, beat-boxing
and jagged choreography. Wounded soldier Will is the focal point, but the ensemble work best as one amorphous mass – whether depicting a hedonistic rave scene that descends into a farcical nightmare, or curling around each other for protection. (Lorna Irvine) Zoo Southside, 662 6892 until 26 Aug (not 20), 2.20pm, £8 (£7). Seven Ages ●●●●● This theatrical improvisation from Kevin Tomlinson is a series of scenes inspired by each of the seven ages of man, as defined by Shakespeare. It is, basically, a chance to see Tomlinson dress up in daft outfits and have a bit of fun. Some well-worn improv structures notwithstanding, this is a lively family show that promises especially big laughs for kids. (Charlotte Runcie) Just the Tonic at The Caves, 556 5375, until 25 Aug (not 13), 3pm, £10 (£7). The Tin Ring ●●●●● The intention of The Tin Ring is to interpret Zdenka Fantlova’s story as a testimony: there is a depth to this witnessing of the Holocaust that is neither the emotive shock of familiar images nor the dry analysis of history. The refusal of provocative melodrama is refreshing and allows the experiences to speak for themselves. (Gareth K Vile) Summerhall, 0845 874 3001, until 25 Aug, 8pm, £14 (£12). 33 ●●●●● Pena is one of the 33 miners who survived a major cave-in for 69 days in a Chilean copper mine in 2010 and who became their mouthpiece. The Wardrobe Ensemble’s musical multimedia play scrutinises the incident. The cast, some of whom play a gorgeous score, are relentless and their witty choreography plays with notions of survival instinct, press prurience and the corrosive effects of fame. (Lorna Irvine) Zoo, 662 6892, until Aug 17, 9.30pm £9 (£8). Undone ●●●●● Appearing as part of the Assembly’s South African season, writer / director and performer Wessel Pretorius is an actor with a commanding stage presence, all the more for being introduced stark naked, lying in a tin bath. As an actor’s piece, it’s a breathtaking show of strength, but pitched too high for most audiences; it’s too close to personal therapy for the actor to fully engage with the viewers. (Eddie Harrison) Assembly George Square, 623 3030, until 26 Aug (not 12), 4.10pm, £12–£13.