FESTIVAL REVIEW
FESTIVAL THEATRE
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THE WOW SHOW
A group of I] year old boys asked to w rite for the fringe could have produced something like The \Vow Show. It is crude. lewd. lotid and totally lacking in political or social comment. But. any radicalcredibility disappears w hen I admit that I laughed right the way through.
()iie sketch crashes into another at Iiiin speed. l‘orgotten lines and outrageous ad libs merge to the extent it is unclear w hich ones are in the script. It could be as embarasxing ax a second-rate medical revue. The fact that it is not. is a tribute to the cast. l.ee ('ornes. l’aul .Mark ltllrott with ( )bliv ion Boys Stephen frost and .Mar k Arden.
It is a shame not too many mums will take their l3 .year old sons totlus xliow They are probably
l
TWO MARKS A-GO GO
After a long offstage admonition by the management. the Two Marks try to get underway btit unwittingly they have left their opening music on stage. Following some amusing attempts to recover their tape. they finally appear in irradiant pink and green outfits. While many oftlieir concepts are innovative and clever. they still need more work. For example. the multi media routine illustrating the history of juggling showed unfulfilled proriiise btit wax too short to really enjoy. ()ii the other hand. the apprentice fire eater was outstanding. as w as all the excellent juggling by the green-suited Mark. L‘nfortunately . like the curate's egg. the Two Marks are good only in parts. (Kerry Napuk)
However. his southern monologues seemed strangely out of place in the Scottish Capital. ()n the other hand. the Panic Brothers brought the house down with their lively and original musical humour. What else can you do but laugh at songs entitled ‘My Daddy was a sperm bank' and ‘My Sony Walkman walked out on me.‘ Their act really ought to be renamed ‘the Panic Brother'. because only one brother. Richard. panicked. jumping about like a tick on a hot stove. This is the first full appearance of the Panic Brothers. w ho are based in London and have
play ed together for almost three years. They are very funny and worth the long wait into the early hours. You will sympathise with Ray‘s stoic calm in face of Rick's frantic antics. (Kerry Napuk)
I Panic Brothers and Mark
launched into an hour monologue about his primary school day s up to taking the Iileveii l’lux. School days at Bagley Road Junior glide by under the watchful and stern gaze of Miss Snelly. classroom teacher. and are illuminated by the arrival of y oung. beautiful Miss Springfield. the new teacher. These school boy memories in Sidcup culminate in the annual trip to the Tower of London. Just how well you relate to this fare must depend on how long ago you sat your first real examination. If you are over 3”. you might hay e serious problems identifying with this gentle humour. While Mr. llutchins did hix best. not many comedians succeed with this type of material. Bill (‘osby and \Voody Allen pulled it off. but. alas. Roy llutchinshax difficulties. (Kerry
has tried to iniertw ine the media of video. slidesand liv e performance in this 'Musieal' w hich relates the thoughts of Jack llanimer. a jazz singer resurrected to cast a critical eye over his ow n experiences and his perceptionon modern life.
Marcus is backed by a strong jazz combo who play a dozen songs expanding on each dialogue. The band turn in a tight and enjoyable performance but the linking passages lack the same pace. The result is that Marcux hax continually to resurrect the image of hixunworldly character instead of building on the earlier sections.
There isa lack of direction behind the dialogues. each remaining separate from the others. and the purpose behind each subject 's inclusion nev er becomes apparent.
The stage is eerie — dominated by a huge silv er crucifix. v ideo screens with Marilyn
xhow ing. a cry pi and an
old dressing table. l’eter Stack as l)ead Marilyn ix eerier. Dressed in a dusty Monroe dress. unkempt blonde wig and rotting flesh. he seems more possessed than performing. Marilyn ix back to set the record straight and with xongx such as Jackie's got a photo‘. Kennedy teatowelsand a dying pltotiecallto.lack there is little doubt just w hat she ixangry about.
It‘s a cheeky. entrancing performance which will leav c you feeling slightly dishevelled and guiltily voyeuristic. ldealeult material. .-\n absolute intist for Monroe fansand anyone w ho w ants to feel slightly naughty . (Linda (iibsott)
I Dead Marilyn. Carlton
the ones who wotlld ettlov I TWO Milka A-GO GO S'ee' Aswmhly RUOmS‘ Nillmkl Thl‘ I‘ h““ Cnimpllllcd h.‘ i Stumos um“ 20 Aug' The it most. (Nick Dudley) ‘ I’leasance (Venue 33) 55b 54 Gang“. Strum, (Venue I space “099973. ClaCketS the dialogue on Bill Venue 28 Aug-3 Sept. 24 IThe Wow Show(ii|ded «550. l'ritil3SCbt. (not “EM”? ‘7'"“3SCW- 3"“ “93'” 3‘9 “5"! ("’-‘l‘."-*”‘ "““"“““”¥ l IE3"
Balloon 'l'heatre (Venue 3S)22(ill5l I'ritil 3Sept. 7.30pm. £4 ( 9.3).
THE FIRST AMENDMENT COMEDY TROUPE
The first Amendment (‘omedy Troupe burst onto the cabaret stage. introducing improvised comedy for the first time in Britain. Improvisation depends on suggestions from the audience for material which is enacted by the players. I’eople yell out subjects. emotions and ideas which are translated into drama and musicals. As you might imagine. quick w its. cleverness and energy are essential to make this type of comedy work. I-‘ortunately . First Amendment has all three. Following in the great tradition of Chicago's Second('ity nightclub. they score some real triumphs. such as the TV panel with people from various cities and the routine where the audience freezes the players w ho must then change the subject. The bad news is they have only two more nights to perform. So. you better hurry. The good news is that the Troupe'x founder. Barbara ('ontardi. plans to return next year. because her two women and four men left the audience screaming for more. (Kerry Napuk) ITtie FirstAmendment COMEDY Troupe I’leasancc (Venue 33) 556655“. 36. 37 Aug. lttpm. £3(£2.5()).
Mondays). ll.5() pm. £4 (£3).
PANIC BROTHERS AND MARK STEEL
Mark Steel opens this late night double bill. Ilis interplay with hecklers was enjoyable and his routine showed flashes of brilliance. such as the Iznglish abroad sketch.
“The List 26 Aug— 1 Sept 198fi
(Not 2‘) Aug. ). Midnight. £4.5()(£3.5()).
— nov HUTCHINS- SPACEHOPPERS, CLACKERS AND REALLY BIG FISH!!
Roy llutchinsarrived sheepishly on stage. unassuming and without props or music. Then he
The Wow Show
l’leasance. oftThe l’lcasance ( v enue 33) 550 (i550. I'ntil 3 Sept.
(not Mondays). / “(1.3).
A PAIN IN THE ARTS
This revue. from A ( iood (irope of the ( ior'bals (‘ompaiiy . is mixed. The duo who perform the hour long show areon rouxly not only ianxot. but also hcav ily influenced by Monty Python and the more recent success of shows such as Not the Nlttc ()'( ‘lock New s. In this respect. they sell themser es short. They are. in comparison. not funny and fall into the trap of pushing some jokes toa tiresome extent.
I lovvev er. they do Iiav e talent. Their accents are versatile and their presentation polished. They are also capable of creatingoriginal. highly amusing material of their own. such as the poetically delivered adv ice of the now deceased American physician. Dr l lickory Von Spikomoff. which showed real thought behind the humour.
(iiv‘en time to search out their own sty le. this duo could have a promising future. (Ron Aitken) IAPain in theArts. Roxburghe l lotel. (Venue 34). l'ntil 27 Aug(not Sun) (ipm. £3(£3.5()).
.5t tpni.
AN AUDIENCE WITHA HAMMER
This is an ambitious production. Brtice Marcus
target for comment. but the substance ncv er rises above the level of a somewhat superficial personal attack. An Audience With a Hammer is an interesting idea which doesn‘t quite come together. (Ron Ailken) IAn Audience WithA Hammer‘l‘he (iilded Balloon. Venue 38. 22h 3151 . I'ritil3 Sept. 3.45pm. £3(£3.5ll).
DONNA & KEBAB Backed by a three piece band. Donna ck Kebab. aka Martha and Indie or Iidie and Martha. played to a packed house. reflecting their continued popularity. Their act sparkled in places. especially with the variant on Paul Simon‘sxong retitled ‘50 ways to leav c your mother" and a wicked impersonation of every (ireek girl’s role model. Nana Mouskouri. ()ri the other hand. at times their
humour seemed forced. If you planoneatchingtheii‘
show. get there early and sit up front. because the sound further back is awful. (Kerry Napuk)
I Donna & Kebab
Assembly Roomx(\'enue
3). 22h 2-127. l'ntil 3 Sept. Midnight. £5 (£4).
DEAD MARILYN
Billed as a multi-media rock opera surrounding the death ol the Belov ed Screen (ioddexx. l)ead Marilyn is asometimcs grotesque. sometimes disturbing completely rivetingone man myth show.
SKINT VIDEO & MARK MIWURDZ
In this hilarious combination. Skin! Video‘s biting satirical reworkingon old pop classics make a savage mockery of all things dear to the establishment. lligh points include a wonderful I'lster medley that would blow Ian Paisley 's fuses. a brutal demolition of 1': and the delicious \ mom of (‘hief (‘onstable .lanies Ander'ton in conv ersatiori with(iod. But tlieshow stopper has to be ‘/.ola'. their version oftheold Kinkshit. ‘I.ola'. an anthem which celebrates the speed with which the South African runner acquired a British passport.
Mark .Miw iri'dz is. by contrast. a no nonsense stand up comic w ith a grudge. A riativeof Sheffield. he lashes his new home town. I ondon. Some of his material is getting dated. hav ing been in his set for at least two years. but its funny nonetheless. (Steve Briggs)
ISkint Video and Mark MIWUTOZComedy Boom. .-\bercraig l lotel. (venue (W). 55(itl4‘N. I'ntil 3 Sept. ‘),3()pm. “(13)
WAITING FOR GOGSIE
(iordon Kennedy. an ex-Bodger. returns to the Fringe with his first solo show. compiled from both old and new material. Kennedy is an excellent