FESTIVAL THEATRE
WORLD THEATRE
Poor Liza was simply a stupendous piece of theatre. (‘omic without being parodic. tender without being mawkish.
the production effortlessly
absorbed the poetic vitality of Russian folk-art into Karamzin‘s highly mannered sentimental structure. without despoiling either. Much of the narrative was conducted in English. so a language barrier is almost non-existent.
Olga Lebedeva was a perfect Liza — a china doll infused with dynamism and vigour — and Vladimir Yamamtov as her lover a buffoon — physical and comic by turns. The ensemble music was equally magnificent — particularly Sergei Edenko. milking the extremes of melodrama from his violin. And a great finale - Rozovski himself regaling us with a song from his last Edinburgh show. (Andrew Pulver)
I See Ilitlist for venue
KAGEKYIO
Theatre Lasenkan are one of several ‘new drama‘ groups in Japan trying to bridge the gap between the strict formalism of traditional Japanese performing arts and more progessive tastes. Kugekyin. a tragedy of fighting heroism and sacrifice written in the 16th century by Chikamatzu. the Japanese equivalent to Shakespeare. is an intriging combination of imaginative staging and Oriental exotic novelty. Live music on Japanese instruments. kimono-style costumes and a set of energetic and committed performances ensure that there is always something to grab the attention when you loose track of the convoluted plot (the programme provides a synopsis). Kana Torino is convincing as a ferocious. female Kagekyio and the rhythmical accompaniment heightens the tension throughout. Although there is sometimes a considerable amount of noise signifying nothing, partly due to the language problem. there
I i
are some very striking and poetic images here which lift the performance well beyond the confines of the cramped stage. (Simon Baily)
I Theatre Lasenkan (Fringe) Mandela Theatre at the Wee Red Bar (Venue 79) 229 1003. Until 26 Aug(not Sun) 5pm; 28 Aug—2 Sept. 8.30pm. £3 (£2).
SO WHERE TO?
Three black South African
' girls await the births of _ theirillegitimate children
in the maternity ward ofa
I township hospital.
Although this play. almost
inevitably.often fellinto
the quicksand of
' heavy-handed
anti-apartheid
‘ propaganda. it never
failed to move on the personal level. Nomvula
Nene. Busisiswe Zokufa and Zandile Mthethwa
gave outstanding stylised performances in their
‘ portrayal of the diverse
attitudes of women in the black townships. while the use of African spirituals spoke mountains more than any political speech
‘ could ever do ofthe oppressed soul of black
South Africans. A play
that should be seen not only by those who care
about the anti-apartheid cause but by anyone interested in theatre. ((‘olin Teevan)
I 30 Where TO? (Fringe) Sabikwa Players. The Assembly Rooms. (Venue 3) 226 2428.11
Aug—2 Sept.bpm.£5(£4).
l
STAR JOB
i The box-office staff will tell you Star Job is mime. l but that is rather a long
way from the truth. What Theatre de la Mic de Pain (breadcrumbs to you and me) serve up is an extended. souped-up. slapstick improvisation sketch performed with great technical verve and an unappealing La Cage Aux Folles-style of humour that is often both sexist and homophobic. Euro-yuppiedom is their theme. with assorted odd-bods competing for that star job. the plastic briefcase and portable telephone. Initially amusing characterisations
(disgusting greaseball. i prim schoolmarm. lascivious homosexual. etc) become increasingly one-dimensional in the repetitive game-show format (does it ever work?) The odd physical gag briefly pushes the show into higher gear— the final action-replay of the race to the finish isa real coup - but all too often the obvious talents of the Company are wasted on limp material and lack of structure. Genuinely hilarious moments arrive on occasion. but you have to wait for thcm.(SB) I Theatre de La Mie Pain (Fringe) Assembly Rooms (Venue 3) 22b 2428.1149 Aug 10pm. 20 Aug 3.45pm. £5.50 (£4.50)
OSCAR
Winnerofthe 198‘)
American (‘ollege
Theatre Festival. ()smris
a powerful short play
about guilt. rejection and
betrayal which moves
between present-day New
York and Nazi Germany.
Ruth Sehmitt. back from
Germany on behalfof
B'nai B'rith. the
anti-defamation
organisation. confronts
her father. ()scar. with her
discovery of Uncle
Ludwig‘s Nazi past. Oscar
Confesses his own guilty
secret -- his part in
developing new aircraft
for (ioering — and in a
rapid series of flashback
scenes we learn the tragic
familyhistory. Unlike his
zealot brother. Oscar is
ambivalent and his
marriage to Anna
l precipitatesa terrible
l confrontation.
I 'I‘readingfamiliar
l ground. the play
. nonethelessthrowsinto
' dramatic relief the painful
3 choices forced on the entire Sehmitt family.
Oscar’s earlier rejection
ofhis Communist father is
i repeated in his daughter's
5 final decision. andthe
‘ play ends on a sombre
l
note. Despite the admirable ensemble acting from a very talented cast. the dramatic . highlights of the play were i rather unfocused and 3 some of the poignant ' symbolism in certain key scenes was lost. With a week‘s rehearsals before its openingon 17 August however. these problems should be overcome and the promise is one of a rewarding hour of theatre. (Lily MacGillivray) I Oscaf(Fringe) Abbotsford: American Actors Alliance. Abbotsford Ilall (Venue 84).447 1122. Aug 17.22.26.31 . Sept 2. 2pm. £2.50 (£1 .50).
FREELOAI
FESTIVAL
You may claim as many different offers as you wish, but please take the whole magazine with you each time. All offers are strictly subject to availability and the individual managements' decisions are final.
Only one ticket offertor each voucher. \ _ First come, First served — Enjoy the show!
HULL TRUCK
A pair of free tickets for GARGLIHG WITH JELLY on Thurs 17, Fri 18, Sat 19 Aug (10pm). Exchange this
m voucher atthe Assembly Rooms Information Desk (Venue 3). Up to 5 pairs of tickets available for each
i performance.
ngflm » SHANOY HALL PRODUCTIONS
X A pair of free tickets for TRISTRAM SHANOY on Mon 21, Tue 22, Wed 23 Aug (6.15pm). Exchange this
' voucher at the Chaplaincy Centre Box Office (Venue
23). Up to 5 pairs of tickets available for each
performance.
THEATRE WORKSHOP
f: A pair of free tickets to see THE WILDE PLAYERS on x Frl18, Sat19, Mon 21 Aug (12.30pm). Exchange this x *‘o voucher at Theatre Workshop Box Office (Venue 20).
., Q a Up to 4 pairs tickets available for each performance.
saw
E» A pair of tickets to see FOOTSTEPS UNDER THE
CARPET on Mon 21 , Tue 22, Wed 23 Aug. Exchange this voucher at Canongate Box Office (Venue 5). Up to 5 pairs tickets available for each performance.
Also, holders of FREE TICKETS are eligible to enjoy breakfast for only 50p at the Canongate Cafe, as are
A pair of free tickets for AND TO EAT NO FISH on Fri 18, Sat 19, Mon 21 Aug. Exchange this voucher at
Southslde International Box Office (Venue 82). Up to 5 pairs of tickets available for each performance.
TRAVERSE THEATRE
TRAVERSE THEATRE
A pair of free tickets to see SANCTUARY on Tue 22, Wed 23 (10pm). Exchange this voucher at Traverse Theatre Box Office (Venue 15). Up to 5 pairs tickets avllable for each performance.
The List 18 — 24 August 1989 31