FESTIVAL
V THEATRE \ ‘ V CABARET
SAVAGES
If you thought the West‘s exploitation of the Brazilian rainforest and its people was old hat. think again. Savages. written by Christopher Hampton (best known for Dangerous Liaisons) is a powerful and haunting script. but you can bet your last cruzado he never envisaged it performed like this.
Directed by members of Volcano. the Welsh-based physical theatre company. an inexperienced and mostly very young cast have created a breathtakingly energetic. inventive and colourful show. which is loud. dangerous and brutal. but also at times very beautiful.
The confidence. commitment and imagination displayed by these performers would be remarkable in a professional company. Here. it‘s proof that— given the right kind of encouragement — enthusiastic amateurs can put most professionals to shame. (Andrew Burnet) I Savages (Fringe) Frantic Theatre Company. St Columba‘s by the Castle (Venue 4) 225 7993. until 29 Aug.
10. 15pm. £4 (£3.50)
V THEATRE
SLUM CLEARANCE
A group of architects. stationed in a castle. are redesigning the city beneath them. This being Havel country there‘s not a lot to smile about. The architects aren‘t happy because they fancy one another. the locals because they want to keep their homes. and the authorities because everyone else is getting irritable at not being happy-
The audience were happy. however. with a tight. well-paced and imaginatively directed piece ofdrama. It might not have been great theatre. but it did manage to overcome the difficulties usually incumbent upon student productions.
And given a ticket costing half as much as an Assembly Rooms show, the good performances get even better. (Stephen Chester)
I Slum Clearance (Fringe) London University Theatre Company, Theatre Zoo (Venue 21) 225 7995. 2022.24.26.28 Aug. 10.45pm.£4.50 (£3.50).
LILY SAVAGE
Our Lily's gone up in the assembly line; from the broom cupboard to the ballroom. But the chandeliers camply dripping over the stage force no concessions to taste. She’s still giving her
5 all for those who like their dragactsbitingtoughand
sharp as a catwoman costume. l thought she'd lost it when she entered in
? Dolly Parton uniform. but ' a few scathing Scouse
put-downs later and the audience was hers.
Savage picks safe subjects for her risque audience — hangovers. shoplifting and. ofcourse . Coronation Street — but she delivered her first night set with enough ad-libbing and covering up for the equipment failures to prove that as well as a drag act. she is also a true comic. And as for the dominatrix
. rumours. all I can report is: ‘meeiaouwl‘. (Thom
Dibdin).
I Savage II: The Return (Fringe) Lily Savage. Assembly Rooms (Venue 3) 226 2428. until 5 Sept (not 25. 1) 11.30pm. £6.50/£7.50 (£5/£6).
V THEATRE
GILLES ET JEANNE
Lighten up kids. Things aren’t so bad. YeahJoan of Arc got a raw deal. but no need to let it get you down.
Donald Reid's new play is not a bundle oflaughs. It starts offearnest. finishes off earnest and in between there‘s a good deal ofearnestness. Very little gets said without a chin being held high. eyes raised to the ceiling and much gnashing ofteeth in
the background. Maybe if
10"/LATE
Jeanne d‘Arc and her would-be lover Gilles de Rais cracked a joke or two or at least let slip some inkling ofhuman character early on. we'd feel more sympathetic. As it is we can‘t wait forthem to die.
Derek Munn gives a compelling performance as the feverish priest and Georgina Brett's music is divine. but these are rare textures on an emotionally one- dimcnsional play. (Mark Fisher)
I Gilles et Jeanne (Fringe) Bedlam Theatre (Venue 49) 225 9893. until 29 Aug. 10.30pm.£4.50 (£3.50).
V CABARET
RU12?
An enjoyable. affectionately bitchy gay revue. offering a handful of shrewdly-observed sketches including a Life on Earth parody. examining the behaviour ofdiffcrent ‘speeies‘ of lesbians and gay men. an appeal for an ‘inning' campaign. to re-closct those who have tarnished the gay community‘s image (alt gay clergy. for wearing such dull frocks; Valerie Singleton. for the same reason‘) and a more serious (and surprisingly affecting) Prince Edward monologue. reflecting bitterly on the eternally locked closet of royal birth. Three lively performances. a liberal dash of raunch and plenty ofgood one-liners complete the recipe for an hour‘s very tasty entertainment. (Sue Wilson)
I RU12? (Fringe) Between the Lines. Maggie Rayc‘s (‘abaret Club (Venue 86) 5560079. 21. 22. 28. 29 Aug. 4. 5 Sept. 10pm.£3.50(£2).
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7,"; FREELOAD ON THE FESTIVAL fr
The PLEASANCE, one of the liveliest venues in this year's fringe is offering readers of The List a chance to see some of their best shows FREE!!! Tickets may be picked up only on the day of each performance, at The Pleasance Box Office, on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Please take the whole magazine along with you. Tickets subject to availability and limited to one pair per person.
GONE WITH NOAKES
A pair of tickets to see GONE WITH NOAKES on Thurs 20 Aug (4.15pm). Four pairs of tickets available.
SHAKER
A pair of tickets to see SHAKER on Thurs 20 Aug (3.15pm). Four pairs of tickets available.
PAINES PLOUGH
A pair of tickets to see SCENIC FLIGHTS - PAINES PLOUGH on Fri 21 Aug (9.30pm). Four pairs of tickets available.
JOHN LENAHAN
A pair of tickets to see JOHN LENAHAN'S MEMOIRS OF A YANK DOING ROPE TRICKS on Fri 21 Aug (3.00pm). Four pairs of tickets available.
MITCHELL ZEIDWIG
A pair of tickets to see MITCHELL ZEIDWIG on Sun 23 Aug (8.15pm). Four pairs of tickets available.
The List 21 — 27 August 1992 53