THEATRE
Wed 26—Sat 29 Dec. Theatre Workshop cuts out the evening performances in order to appeal to a family audience. This new Christmas show is written by Simon Abbott and is all about an Edinburgh schoolgirl who has a scrapyard adventure into the mists of time. See review.
I TRAVERSE THEATRE I 12 West Bow. Grassmarket. 226 2633. Box Office Tue-Sat 10am—8pm. Sun 6— 10pm. Bar. Rest. Tickets also available from the
Ticket Centre. Market Street. [Accessz St.
Facilities: E. Help: AA]. The Bench Fri 7-Sun 23 Dec (inc Suns. but not Mons). 7.30pm. £5 (£3). Public discussion after performance on Tue 1 1 Dec. The Traverse flies in the face of nature by staging a play which makes no concessions to Christmas. fairy queensor reindeer. Following the company‘s success with A Man with ('mtneetimzs two Festivals ago. Ian Brown and Andrew Farrell co-direct this latest play by Alexander Gclman. Not recommended for sweet-throwers. See preview. Gelman Conference Sun 9 Dec. After performance. Free. Alexander (ielman. author of The Bench. gives a short after-play talk. Orokle'l‘ue 11 Dec. 7pm. £1 (50p). Edinburgh Playwright's Workshop gives a first reading to a dramatised epic poem by Richard Livermore. OnlyA Complaint Sat 15 Dec 7pm. Free. Michele Celeste. whose Hanging The President was one ofthe hottest tickets in town at last year's Edinburgh Fringe. is back in town to watch a performed reading ofhis latest play directed byJohn Mitchell. It‘s a study ofracial harassment in Britain and concerns four new recruits into the police force. Celeste will be around for a discussion afterwards. Playreading Tue 18 Dec. 7pm. £1 (50p). Edinburgh Playwrights Workshop reads a new play.
CABARET
FRIDAY 7
I Gong Night Tron Theatre. 63 Trongatc. ()41 552 4267. 10.30pm. Free. Following the success of the first Gong Night a few weeks ago. The Tron gives you upwards of twenty seconds to prove your worth as a stand-up comic. If the audience likes you. you could be on to a winner. Would-be stand-ups should make themselves known to Caroline Hall on 041 552 3748.
I The Counting House Upstairs. 32/2 West Nicolson Street. Edinburgh. ()31 6620781. 10pm. £4 (£3). Bar/restaurant open all day. serving until 9. 30pm. Fringe favourite and radio star Arnold Brown returns to Scotland with his own brandof Scottish-Jewish humour. this time in the company of pianist Rod Melvin.veteran ofthe Comic Strip and Ian Dury. See preview.
? SATURDAY 8
I The Comic Club Blackfriars. 45 Albion Street. Glasgow. (141 552 5924. 9pm. £4.50 (£3.50). Bar open 8.30pm—midnight. Tonight Fred McAulay introduces Phil Kay and a breathless Stu Who'.’. who‘ll be running round from the Pavilion where he's starring in the panto.
I The Gag Club Wilkic I louse. 237 Cowgate. Edinburgh. 031 662 0781. 10.30pm for 1 1pm (0an till 3am). £4.50 (£3.50). Forty minute stand-up sets interspersed with live and recorded music — a selection of retro. house and old favourites. Tonight. Scotland‘s funkicst band. D.(‘. Ellis. provide the music while local stand-up Kenny I larris provides the one-liners.
DEWEY— JACK DEE
Seen at Strathclyde Union, Glasgow. Peering down from the dizzy heights of Level 8, 1 could see little groups of Strathclyders merrily beginning their ascent. Unfortunately for Mr Dee‘s bank balance, many, preferring a jive to a joke, got no iurtherthan Level 4. Slipping pastthe doorman, I found myself among a smattering ofJack Deevotees feverishly clutching their pints of snakebite and scurrying off to the toilets at regular intervals. For a
his audience and his very presence would be required to fill not just the stage, but most of the front rows as well.
Waiting for the audience to increase the birthrate was proving a fruitless task and it seemed a rather disinterested Dee, that finally accepted defeat and ambled towards the microphone. As he moved quickly into his stride, we were exposed to a stage persona rich in humour and cynicism,
‘ but bereft of any warmth and emotion. But just as Dee was switching onto 7 autopilot, he encountered a little
while it appeared that Dee would come .
precariously close to out-numbering
Jack Dee
turbulence.
Following a few Gulf gags, we were blessed with the arrival of two trainee hecklers who headed straight for the front with the customary pint in hand. And these guys were good! Stunned by the level of their repartee, the
j erstwhile sombre Dee began to
perspire and was visibly shaking as the scathing line, ‘We didn't pay to get in!‘ reverberated around the ball. This was
quickly followed by, ‘00 you know what 1 a prat is?’
lthink we all did.
After offering an increasingly frustrated Mr Dee a cigarette, we discovered our heckler supreme was
I none other than Dave from Airdrie. Now , Dave, who possessed the ' sophistication and verbal dexterity of a
welder from Tyneside, turned out to be a Law student. Disturbing.
If you‘re contemplating a life of crime, best start now before Dave qualifies. (Michael Brown)
suuov 9
1 I The Salamander Club Cafe Royal. West I l I
IS RIGHT
THEATRE WORKSHOP CHRISTMAS SHOW 1990
Register Street. Edinburgh. 228 1838. 8pm. £2 (£1). Phone in advance for disabled access. A weekly cabaret featuring Scottish poets and musicians and compered by snap-happy Jon Stark.
TUESDAY 11
I Richard Morton Strathclyde University Union. John Street. Glasgow. ()41 552 1895. 8pm. £3 (students and guests only). Originally announced for last fortnight. this final comedy gig ofthe term features ex-Panic Brother. Richard Morton.
THE TIME 1
s t
FRIDAY 14
I The Counting House Upstairs. 32/2 West Nicolson Street. Edinburgh. 031 6620781. 10pm. £4 (£3). Bar/restaurant open all day. serving until 9.30pm. Funny Farmers
asflb
CHAMPION OF THE ROMANY
)3 gay
sf
.TUES 27 NOV - THURS 20 DEC IO.30om & 7.30pm SAT 22 DEC 3pm WED 26 - SAT 29 DEC Tlam & 3pm
—':as?
TICKETS £3.50 (£2.50)
BOX OFFICE 031- 226 5425
THEATRE COMPANY
THE BRUNTON THEATRE SEASON lN KIND ASSOCIATION WITH CHILDL/NE
THE PAII'I'OIIII‘IE
SCRIPT BY DAVID SWAN 4 DECEMBER - 5 JANUARY
(Excluding Sundays, 25 & 31 December, 1 January)
MATINEES 2.30PM EVENING PERFS 7.3OPM TICKETS: £4.50 - £2.50
PERSONAL CALLERS WELCOME FURTHER BOOKING INFORMATTON AND PERFORMANCE TlMES PLEASE TELEPHONE (031) 666 2240
The List 7 ~ 201)ecember 1990 6
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