THEATRE LIST
Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh. Wildcat and the Lyceum, Edinburgh have joined forces to attempt to produce a rollicking rock music version at John Gay’s classic 18thC satire, The Beggar's Opera. In its day, The Beggar’s Opera, with its savage attack on Walpole's government, proved sulllclently dangerous for Gay to have his next play banned. Set in the instantly tackily recreated past at a theme pub in Thatcher’s economy, there is sadly nothing in this new version to provoke any such reaction. Peachum’s Poorhouse is just not accurate enough as a metaphor lor our mid-19808 government. Peachum, owner at the pub and deeply into every exploitative business around, comes up against an arms dealer intent on marrying his daughter. But nominally
Mayfest). A new updated version of John Gay’s classic 17th century burlesque satirical opera, which provided the impetus for Brecht’s Threepenn y Opera. This is a new venture for the Lyceum; a co~production with Wildcat Stage Productions. David MacLennan has devised the new text, David McNiven the music and Ian Wooldridge directs. See Review and Mayfest.
The Mikado Tue 13—Sat 17 May. 7.30pm. Sat mat 2.30pm. £3, £4, £5. Sat mat £3. Edinburgh Savoy Opera Group in Gilbert and Sullivan’s highly popular, Oriental operetta.
‘ O TRAVERSE 112 West Bow, 226
2633. Box office Tues—Sun 10am—8pm. Bar. Rest. Tickets also available The Ticket Centre, 22 Market Street.
KOI‘I Fri 2 May—Sun 25 May. Preview
5 Thurs 1 May. 7.30pm. Temp
members £4.50; Econ members £4; Full members £3.50; Student, OAP,
UB40 £2.50 (members £2). Students 3 now bookable in advance.
Reductions for more than one play of season booked. A new play by Tom McGrath launches the Traverse’s 1986 season of entirely new work; three world premieres of new writing from Scotland, and two British premieres to follow. McGrath’s play, a black comedy, is described by the director as ‘Dario
F0 in a housing estate’ - a comic, incisive look at bureaucracy. Directed by Jenny Killick and designed by Neil Murray.
BEGGAR’S OPERA/PEACHUM’S POOR HOUSE
lief. . g the subject at satire, these characters spend too much time delivering the attacks. Both lor example attack the crooked professional classes, but they are equally crooked. Just where does this leave the satire?
The basic implausibility in the satire spoils some sharp writing from David McLennan and the occasional clever lyric in Ian Wooldridge’s production which, why lull of good acting, tailed to produce even the seedy glamour that it promised at first. There is a dilterence between parodying something and being merely derivative, and some of the music and lyrics by David McNiven lell short ol the mark. Nevertheless, the first rate band and some strong singing were the best that was to be had Irom this theme theatre production. (Nigel Billen)
TOURING
Please check all venues it possible — they may be subject to change after Dress date.
0 Fiat TAG Theatre Company in a new production of Pam Gem’s play about the legendary French singer Edith Piaf. Gem‘s vivid, compassionate and often funny play shows us Piaf’s many sides, her cynicism, her selfishness, her Spirit and her vulnerability. Terry Neason plays and sings Piaf in Ian Brown‘s production. For further details tel. TAG on 041 429 2877.
King’s Theatre, Glasgow (Mayfest) 7.30pm. Tue 6—Sat 10 May. 041 552 5961; Eden Court Theatre, In verness 7.45pm. Mon 12—Sat 17 May. 0463 221718; Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh 7.45pm. Tue 20—Sat 26 May. 031 229 9697.
0 There is A Happy Land More of a concert than a play: 7:84 Scotland and Ossian present a history of the Highlands through the music and songs written to commemorate landmarks in Gaelic history. The music is beautiful and the stories are told with humour and anger by Simon Mackenzie and Elizabeth MacLennan. For further details tel. 7:84 Scotland on 031 557 2442. Dundee Rep Thurs 8—Sat 10 May. 7.45pm; Dingwall Town Hall Tue 13 May. 7.45pm.; Duthac Centre, Tain Wed 14 May. 7.45pm; Assembly Rooms, Wick Thurs 15 May. 7.45pm. Tour continues.
0 The Puddok an’ The Princess A
.L
12
‘something in it which gives pleasure to all ages. . . the Puddok is a marvellous creation' The Scotsman ‘a richly humorous comedy of human foibles’ Glasgow Herald TOURING SCOTLAND see Listings in this issue. From 17th May to lst lune Assembly Rooms Edinburgh, Glenrothes, Dumfries, T'nornhill, I
Tron Theatre Glasgow. For further information. dates. times and ticketpriccs please contact Theatre Alba,
55%“: RE flLfi
THE PU DDOK AND THE PRINCESS
COMPANY llMlTEO
presents
by David Purves
c/o Assemny Theatre. 54 George Street. Edinburgh El I2 2LR,03l 2262427.
Edinburgh Acting School
FURTHER DETAILS (SAE please) Edinburgh Acting School
Enjoy a tun week and learn new skills c.g. ACTING, DANCING and VOCAL TECHNIQUE
Adults, 7-11 July; 15-17 yrs, 14—17th July;
DRAMA SUMMER SCHOOL
12—14 yrs, 21—25th July; 9—11 yrs, 28th July-1st August.
24 Nicolson Street
The secrets behind the free enterprise scandal! Performances at Z45 pm nightly. Seats from £2
Tel 031-229 9697
——-— PERFORMED AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE BY
WWNILDCAT
Edinburgh 031 667 9493 :
return ofTheatre Alba's delightful production ofDavid Purves‘ play about an uppity puddok (aka frog) who, through a mixture ofcharm and bombast, inveigles his way into the affections of a princess. For further details tel. Theatre Alba. c/o Assembly Rooms. Edinburgh on ()31 226 2427.
Chambers Hall, Peebles Thurs 1. 7.30pm. 031 226 2427; Kirkhope Village Hall. Ettrickbridge Fri 2. 7.30pm. Melrose 2555; Town Mill Theatre, Strathaven Sat 3. 7.30pm. 0357 2941 1; Lennox Castle Hospital, Glasgow Tue 6. 7.30pm; Village Hall, St Boswells Wed 7. 7.30pm. Melrose 2555; Student Union, St Andrews Thurs 8. 7.30pm. 0334 76161 ext 591 ; Corn Exchange, Melrose Fri 9. 7.30pm. Melrose 2555; HarbourArts Centre, Irvine Sat 10. 7.45pm. 0294 74()59;John
Mains Community Centre, (iorbals, Glasgow Mon 12. 7.30pm. 041 429 5640; Househill Community Centre, Glasgow Tue 13. 7.30pm. 041 881 8083; Shettleston Community Centre, Glasgow Wed 14. 7.30pm. 041 778 5783; Dalmarnock Community Centre, Glasgow Thurs 15. 7.30pm. 041 556 4776. Tour continues.
0 Writer’s Cramp Borderline Theatre Company in John Byrne’s hilarious comedy about the trials and
tribulations ofthe poet-cum-painter
‘ FrancisSeneca McDade.Forfurther
details tel. Borderline on 02964
79648.
Lyceum Studio. Edinburgh Until 3 May. 8pm; Mitchell Theatre,
Glasgow Wed 7—Sat 10 May.
7.30pm; Lyth Arts Centre, nr Wick Mon 12—Tue 13 May. 8pm; Dundee r Rep Wed 14—Sat 17 May. 7.45pm. 1 Tour continues.
’ "metal—2- 15 May 7