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V THEATRE
SAFEHOUSE
lfall western affluence is founded on the suffering of the Third World. then what morality should the poor obey? An aid worker returns from Africa with a mysterious secret and a drastic method for securing long term tenancies.
It is this intriguing idea which forms the spine of what is a fairly successful drama. somewhat handicapped by the usual problems of student drama; occasionally weak performances. a token naturalistic set and moments of
FESTIVAL
clock-watching slackness. A well developed plot leads the production down the paths that Pinter blazed. and manages to overcome patches ofweak writing (various illiterate characters become engaged in metaphysical discussion) without losing too much pace. Worth the cheap ticket. (Stephen Chester) I Safehouse (Fringe) KULT. Moray llouse Union Theatre (Venue 108) 5565184. 22. 24 Aug. 6pm. £2.50 (£2).
V THEATRE
THE ICE PICK Love and Death — big themes which might
obliterate everything else in a lesser play — are successfully dealt with by the AIDS Positive Underground Theatre (grant-less since showing two men kissing) in their latest piece of Sponsor-scaring theatre. Focusing closely on a specific relationship between one person HIV positive and another who refuses to test. this is essentially a love story. with AIDS as an issue within a relationship rather than as an exterior. motivating Issue. Unfortunately. neither 1 nor most of the audience could actually see the play due to Theatre Workshop's arcane seating arrangements;
“noma- Feminist ballet
the one.
For dance enthusiasts this event will be particularly interesting as it’s the first performance in Scotland of Peter Schaufuss’ company, Schaufuss being the one who left English National Ballet under a great cloud of bad feeling last year. For Festival-goers who would like to catch some first-class ballet this is
Formed way back In 1955 by Tatiana Gsovsky and based at the Opera House in what was West Berlin, The Ballet of the Deutsche Oper is fast attaining a reputation for an improved standard of technique and an image all of their own -the goals Schaufuss set himself in 1990. They bring two productions -the traditional, romantic ballet of Giselle, and an unotraditional, multi-medla Bing Round the Ring by Maurice Beiart.
Beiart has a company of his own in Lausanne and is renowned for being hated or loved throughout the ballet
warned.
world. He makes purposelully modern works-often ‘outrageous’ and ‘scandalous' - and he takes gigantic liberties with other people’s ideas- in this case Wagner. If you are a Wagner purist you may be horrified by this four-hour spectacle. You have been
0n the other hand, Schaufuss’ variation of Giselle is, by all accounts, excellent. It's not often described as a feminist ballet, but it could be. Giselle is tricked by a Count, commits suicide, and then finds a new identity. She becomes a willi (‘Maidens who have died before their wedding day, because of faithless lovers’). At nights willis lure their ‘lnnocenl’ flancées into the forest and make them dance to their death — a just desert for causing such misery you may think. But Giselle is generous of heart and there's another plot twist in store for you. (Tamsin Grainger) Bing Round the Ring (International Festival) The Ballet of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin, Playhouse Theatre, 225 5756, 28, 29 Aug, 6.45pm, 26-21850. Giselle (International Festival) The Ballet of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin, Playhouse Theatre, 225 5756, 30, 31 Aug, 7.30pm; 1 Sept, 3pm, 31 Aug 2.30pm, 26—21850.
unseeable. occasionally unbearable. but definitely unmissable. (Stephen Chester)
I The Ice Pick(Fringc) Aids Positive Underground Theatre. Theatre Workshop (Venue 20) 226 5425. until 31 Aug(not Sun).6pm. £3.50 (£2).
V JAZZ
EGBERTO GISMONTI
The connection between Brazilian music and jazz has been well-established over the years. rooted in a meeting ofthe lilting but funky rhythms ofthe southern continent with the muscular directness and improvisational virtuosity ofjazz.
Guitarist Egberto Gismonti is arguably the leading example ofthat synthesis. along with percussionist Nana Vasconcelos. with whom he has recorded several successful albums for the influential ECM label. Gismonti absorbed not only his native music and jazz. but also studied formal harmony with the famous teacher Nadia Boulanger in Paris. and all of those influences emerge in his scintillating music.
As befits a player who is open to experiment with musical forms. he hasalso developed an unusual instrument on which to do so. When six strings
proved inadequate to cope
with the full expansion of his harmonic ideas. Gismonti began to add to the basic guitar. first moving to eight. then ten. then twelve. and ultimately fourteen-string guitars. which have allowed him to create the uniquely orchestral feel of his solo music. This is his Scottish debut. and promises to be a memorable one. (Kenny Mathieson)
I Egberto Gismonti (Fringe) TDK Round Midnight Jazz Festival. Queen's IIall (Venue 72) 6682019. 28 Aug. 7.30pm. £7.50.
V CABARET
CHRIS LYNAM
Chris Lynam has gained himself a formidable reputation over the years and no one really knows
what to expect of him. The
programme reveals fascinating biographical details of Lord Byron‘s tempestuous life. Drunkeness. violence. insanity — all of a sudden the Chris Lynam connection slots into place. What follows is a
g ._\\ _(
selection of songs. recitals on four different musical instruments. poetry and a I seriesofthreatening phonccalls. all ofwhich i vaguely serve to follow the history of Byron's life. I l
Lynam certainly looks funny and with a limited range of set-piece expressions he acts funny. But the mad-cap cocktail =' of manic stares. screaming. comedy songs and leaps into the audience don‘t add up. ; The tale of Byron keeps i the show chugging along. but don‘t expect to laugh much. (Neil West)
I Chris Lynam ls Lord Byron in Mad, Bad And Dangerous To Know (Fringe) Assembly Rooms (Venue 3) 220 434‘). 22—31 Aug. 6pm. £6.50 (£5.50). (£7.50 (£6.50) 23—25 Aug
V CABARET
l LEE EVANS AND i JEFF GREEN ;
Twostand-ups.standing I up— one after the other- ’ to do their stuff. Both with l TV appearances under their belt. it would seem that this show is a stepping 1 stone for the two comedians between the i ranks ofthe fifteen-minute cabaret slot (hopefully now behind them) and a full-blooded one-man show.
Lee Evans has the tough ; job ofgoing on first. He‘s a very funny man. cutting a stuttering swathe through material that doesn't really do him justice. A cross between a turbo-charged Frank Spencer and Phil (‘ool‘s little brother, Lee Evans feigns a speech inpedement to hinder (and hence in a bizarre way help) his act. Hampered by a sober audience. he at least profides a good warm-up for his partner.
JeffGreen is a real charmer. The group of teenage girls I found myselfsat with all left with wobbly knees. But behind this comfy image — even the blokes figured on him
being a great guy to go drinkingwith— Iurksan alarmingly sharp and alert mind. llc's certainly got class. and before long you just can't help finding his observations. jibes and torments very. very funny.
The very best in stand up comedy'.’ No. not at all. But worth a try. (Neil West) i I Lee Evans and Jeff Green (Fringe) The Counting llousc (Venue 66) 226 2151.unti| 31 Aug. 7.45pm. £5 (£4).
v THEATRE ouvs AND DOLLS
Why is it that young companies always attract predominantly young l audiences? (‘crtainly it's gotnothingtodowiththe 1 quality ofperformance. j You can search all you i 1
want. but you won’t find many glitzicr. slicker or indeed more professional shows than the National Youth Music Theatre's roller-coasterproduction i of (iuys and Dolls. ('haracters rarelycomc l stronger than this— and I the cast relishes the opportunity to shine. There are no weak links. But is everything just a little looclinical'.’Toowell drilled and timed'.’ All too often it would seem that the cast is merely doing a l job. going through the motions. OK. so they doit very well. in some places expertly. but for real energy. try the NYMT‘s original production. ()m‘e (fprm a War. (Neil West)
/'
I Guys and Dolls(i~ringc) National Youth Music i The;:1re.(ieorge Square i Theatre (Venue 37). 24 Aug 7pm and 3pm.£6.50 (£4).
V FOLK . BOAT THlEF
A youthful penchant for a little flight sailingon Windermere on a ‘borrowed' craft gives this bunch their distinctive handle. Allin lheierls. Boat Thicfare gaining a lot of attention around the North of England for their ability to kick up astorm and get the audience (mm
42 The List 23 — 29 August 1991