Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh With many of Shaw’s plays you have the feeling in places that he is having a hugely enjoyable lime — at the expense , of everybody else. With Pygmalion the difference is that everybody can have a i hugely enjoyable time. It is a comedy that has weathered tremendously well -though its satire initially seems directed at its own time — partly, perhaps, because the serious questions it raises about social mores go beyond just contemporary relevance, partly, perhaps, because the tensions between the particulartrio ; it presents are so beautifully, intriguingly ambivalentand credible. The Lyceum’s production, directed by Hugh Hodgart, gives it its lull measure of compassion, intellectual argument (complete with red herrings) and fun. The cast work well together. Penny Bunton gives Eliza a dignity beyond stereotype that makes a true mockery of the ‘squashed cabbage leaf' that comes her way (though she is better on
running workshops for young
people. See Kids.
The Magic Whistle Mon 14—Sat 19 July. 2.30pm. £2 adult; £1 child. Another show for young audiences. thistime from the Netherbow Raiders. who bring a Gaelic boy hero from folklore onto the stage. Lots of action and suitable for kids of any age. 5 Arts Opportunity Programme Mon 7—Sat 19 July. A series ofworkshops in stage skills for young people. to be held in the Harry Younger Hall. Workshops range from puppet making. to circus skills. to dance. to stage fighting to mime and masks. For further details please contact The Netherbow. See also Kids page. The Bothy: Tales, Songs, Traditions of Scotland Tue l—Sat 26 July. 8pm. £3 (£2). Cheese and oatcake supper from 7pm. £1.51). An evening looking at different manifestations throughout Scottish literature and legend of fascinations with the supernatural —- from Robert Burns to E Thomas the Rhymer.
O PLAYHOUSE 18/22 Greenside
Place. 557 2590. Box office Mon—Sat
I the gentle comedy than the caterwauling), while Ralph Riach's 1 fraying Colonel Pickering and Neil
THEATRE LIST
Cunningham’s ennervated Henry
Higgins are fitting partners in crime.
Cunningham plays the horrid Higgins
i as spoilt, loathesome and utterly
engaging, a petulant baby, well foiled by Vari Sylvester’s shrewish
housekeeper and Nancy Mitchell as his 2 long-suffering mother (whose
; delightfully incongruous copy of The
Sullragette nicely points up both the
T qualities and limitations of Shaw’s
portrayal of new woman). There are some doubtful scenes -
Eliza’s debut in the ballroom is " particularlylimp-butallinallitisa
bright, effervescent, intelligent production with strong central performances and some delightful
; cameos. Roland Oliver as the ; Undeserving Doolittle being inflicted
with middle-class morality is suitably harrowing — though you can’t resist the desire to hear him burst into song.
(Sarah Hemming).
1(lam—6pm. Bar.
0 ROYAL LYCEUM (irindlay Street. 2299697. Box office Mon—Sat 10am—6pm. 1(lam—8pm on perfevgs. Bar. Rest. Confusions Lyceum Studio. Until Sat 28June. 7.31)pm.£2(£1.8()). Tickets avail. Royal Lyceum Box Office. 229 9697. Edinburgh Youth Theatre in Alan Ayckbourn's comedy. Pygmalion Until 'l‘hurs 31 July. 7.45pm.(2.3July;7.8. 11.12.16. 17. 22. 25. 26. 31). 31 July. plus Sat mats on 12 and 26 July at 3. 15pm.) £2—£5. TheatreSaver holders £1 off. Further concs avail — £1 off each ticket if you book for both shows. The Lyceum company open their summer season with two shows in repertoire. Midsummer .N’ighr‘s Dream (see below). and this. one of Shaw‘s best known. best loved comedies in which the pompous. misogynous elocution professor. Henry Higgins. elects to transform Eliza Doolittle from a flower girl to a lady. An extremely enjoyable. lucid and good looking production. with good rounded performances. See Review.
DAVID l.ll)[)l.E
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Thurs 26 j June—Sat 9 August. 7.45pm. (26—30 June;1.4.5.9.1().14.15.18.19.23. , 24. 28. 29 July; 1—9 August; plus Sat mats on 19 July and 2 August at 3.15pm). £2—£5. TheatreSaver holders £1 off. Further concs available - £1 offeach ticket ifyou book for both shows. Free preview Thurs 26 June. Discussion after show Mon 3(1June. Also opening for the Lyceum‘s summer season. anew production ofShakespeare‘s midsummer. magical comedy where dream and reality merge and everybody falls in love with the
wrong person — with a little help from Puck. '
O THEATRE WORKSHOP 34 Hamilton Place. 226 5425. Box Office
Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.3()pm. Bar. Cafe’. [D] Young People‘s Theatre Fortnight Mon 30June—Sat 12July. Consolidating ; last year‘s success. Theatre ' Workshop present a fortnight of shows by and for young people. together with workshops. cabaret and exhibitions. Workshops range from clowning. to set design. to dance. stage fighting. video and photography — and more besides. Some are held at the Gateway Exchange. Abbeymount. For details ofworkshops. please contact Theatre Workshop.
There will be cabaret events every evening after the main shows — acts appearing include The Peristalsis
YOUNG PEOPLES THEATRE FORTIIGII'I' . THEATRE WORKSHOP: 30JUN.-12JUL.I986
THEATRE - CABARET - WORKSHOPS
Come along and be part of if.
pick up a leaflet THEATRE WORKSHOP 34 HAMILTON PLACE EDINBURGH EH3 SAX
BOX OFFICE 031 226 5425
SHAAW SHAKESPEARE
Two charming comedies for the long summer evenings.
SUMMER SEASON '12 June to 9 August
NIGHT’S DREAM
Performances at 7.45 pm
PERFORMED BY
Row. New. WOW/7’7
PYGMQLION A MIDSUMMER
Tel 031-229 9697 i
Ié LY ,
The liveliest building at the Festival. 50 shows in one place. Something for everyone.
". . . The astonishing and indispensable Assembly Rooms . . . ’
Full Programme details available July lst.
Send foolscap SAE (18p) to: Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LR Telephone: 031-226 5992
OWL
I
OBSERVE ‘1
The List 27 June — 1()Ju1y 11