THE LADlES’BltNt)
‘y indaloo my bottom's burning for you.‘
The Brothers are heavily into audience involvement. so nobody is sale. You either love or hate them. there is no middle ground. l'nfortunately. this version of the KB isa paler imitation oftheir former selves. More brass. more off-the-wall funky do-rights. please. (Kerry \apuk)
I The Kondo Brothers (‘ooking with (ias (Fringe) Pleasance (\‘enue 33) 5566550. 39—31.»\ug.7.3(lpm.£5.5(l (£5).
V THEATRE COOK DEMS
(‘ook Dems is a delight — one of those choux pastry with chocolate sauce and fresh cream type of delights. Like a one-woman ,, comedy act. Bobby Baker ‘ bursts with personal stories.sendingherself up. Like a cookery demonstration. there's an emphasis on hygiene. practicality and economy: and like excellent theatre. (‘ook Dems has innovation. depth and surprise.
i3!!!
““g m
folk music § jazz § drama
song § Piping §
ACOUSTIC
MUSIC CENTRE
E.U. UNION § I6 CHAMBERS STREET
E D I N B U R G H
over i80 shows in 23 days all under one roof in 2 venues: l00/200 seats informal song & music sessions bar § snacks § meals § refreshments § all day until late
TICKETS available from AMC at E.U. UNION § I6 Chambers Street § Edinburgh § Venue 25 Box OFFICE from noon to midnight each day § tel: 03i 220 2462 (information only)
TICKETS also on sale from FRINGE OFFICE § I80 High Street § Edinburgh § tel. 03l 226 5257/9
revue § dance § story-telling § poetry
l ,_-_,___ _
There‘s a serious message underlying Jean Anouilh’s The Ladies' Band, but the Open Theatre of Belgrade treats the piece with such exhuberance that it‘s easy to miss. Six women musicians and a male pianist run through a set of jolly European uptempo numbers in front of a tacky silver backdrop in a French health resort, while discussing their social and sexual preoccupations. It’s a short, colourful production, toll of eccentric characters — the cross-eyed violinist, the leggy drummer obsessively pouting and preening, the alcoholic tlautist played
amusing.
‘ y by a man — and is consequently very
But how much the sad desperation of these people comes across, I‘m not sure. It could be the ettect of translation, but the production comes across as all truth and silliness with little sense of loss or emptiness, for example, when one character is forced to kill herself. (Mark Fisher)
The Ladies‘ Band (International Festival) Open Theatre of Belgrade, St Bride’s Centre, 225 5756, until 31 Aug, 7.15pm; 28 and 31 Aug, 2.30pm, 26.504310.
She really loves the
sensualityof her medium.
appreciates each taste. the feel of dough on her lace. and the subtle changesof
f colour once new
ingredients are added to the mixing bowl. This. l feel. was her raison d'etre — though she‘d he sure to
make fun of a phrase like that. (Tamsin (irainger) I Cook Dems and Drawing on 3 Mother‘s Experience
(Fringe) Bobby Baker.
i Traverse Theatre (Venue I5) 226 3633. Cook Dems: 2(i—25Aug.3.l5pm;
Drawing on a Mother's Experience:27—31Aug.
I 7.3(lpm.£7(£-l).
v POETRY
cs...
KIN
‘es‘s;
should have distracted the Christopher Logue fans who went to see him read his translation ofThe Iliad. Books one and two.
1 with Alan Howard. in the
Dream Tent. Instead. it
was ratherfitting.
providinga battle-like
: backdrop for a poem about war.
Logue prides himselfon writing reul poetry demanding real voices and Howard. who has the bulk ofthe lines. fits the bill awesomely. Propless. costumeless and sometimes book in hand. he is an evocative and
NEWMAN
energetic performer. holding the audience in thrall until the vital last moment « a positive boon
for those who. hay ing read
Kings. needed someone to bring it alive for them. (Miranda France)
I Kings ( l’ringe) Alan Howard and Christopher Logue. Assembly Wildcat at the Meadows ( Venue llo) run ended.
This august journal has already covered the latter
anything new with a side-kick you‘ll know
what toexpeet.
L'nfortunately. you'll also know exactly w hat to expect from David Baddiel. even down to the nexthne.
()ne of the complaints
levelled at T\"s Mary Tiling/rouse Ifxperienr'e
was that it was identical to the radio show of the same name. However. working on the premise that it didn‘t do him any harm then. Baddiel is once
again using gags that must by now be well over a year old. He disguises the fact by the occasional 'topical'
V CABARET
DAVID BADDIEL AND ROB
aside
‘.lohn Maior. he'sa spastic" (witty?) \Vliat‘sannoying(toa rev icw er at least ) is the fact that he is still funny in spite ot this perpetual rchashing. If he could bring himselftow rite somethingoriginal. he may well be worthshelling out seven quid tosec. (l’hilip Part) I David Baddiel and Rob Newman ( l’ringe ). (ieorgc Sqaure Theatre ( Venue 3'7) ho“? 3"“4. until 31 Aug (not 39). 11.45pm. £7.
' v FOLK
BRATSCH
' Bratseh bring all the
formality you'd expect at ll gypsy camp celebration to the stuffy atmosphere of the St Bride‘s Centre.
Thoroughly selt- assured. this to e piece set of accomplished musicians (accordion. violin. double bass. clarinet. guitar bouzouki) throw together a selection of 'gy psy music from
AUGUST 9 to 3| I99| ' .- .O ... . .. § : The incfcslsan‘:.fairgroupd : half of this partnership Wm”) hlmpc- __ “Mm. noiseo can ing meta 'ind'ishe doesn‘tdo .. - v . ‘ e s n ~ )olkas, slow love songs. V E N U E 2 5 and children sscreams ‘
the jazz flamenco of the Islamic liast and Diango Rhcinhardt. intermingled with the more ethereal strains of bluesey jazz solos.
They hay e a good time with it. with lots of l lupl liup? llupping? and joking amongst each other. even in mid-solo. For their verve and cavalier spirit you don't want to rnissthe gypsies. but it's a pity they can't be seen in less sanitised surroundings. (Robert Alstead)
I Bratsch ( international Festival) St Brides Centre. 34o l4ll5 39-31 Aug. lllpm. £7 £5.
18The List 30 August — 12 September l99l