LISTINGS THEATRE
Intimate relations: Asylum! Asylum! on tour
putt-tins iti\ mm physically charged portrait ol the would inhabited by those v. ilh autism, Designed and directed by Rae Smith oI 'l'heatre de Comphcite and set against a backdrop oi specially constituted sound and light by l’aule Constable. Sec ptc\ tcw.
Dream Machine Tue 2 May. 7pm. £2. A multi-metha pit sentaltoii describing the hopes and dreams ol' the people ol Crargmillar as part ol' the Edinburgh l‘ling.
A is for Abba! Wed .i Sat (i .\lay. 8pm. £6 4U). See ’l'ouring.
I THE 369 GALLERY Cowgale.
[7.5” It? i. Contact boil 318‘) lor details. Artistic l’pstarts are back and pulling out the stops with their i'ouith multi-media \lltny case extravaganza featuring over twehc acts drawn l‘tottt all spheres ol' Scottish perl'oimauce. Sophie Bancrolil. Sugar llollcl. 'l‘ltcy .-\lc llct 'l‘ltcallc i’oziipau). Vestt l\ dance company. lU's llitill l cttsli and Joy and lots more. will per lot in on into the night.
smite stARstr-t
EMBE- THE oowrt STORM
' Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh. Until 22 ' April.
he Gowk Storm: ‘too much melodrama'
SEAN “EDSth
For his first theatrical venture, screenwriter Colin MacDonald has adapted Nancy Brysson Morrison’s classic novel of the 1930s, The Gowk Storm. Set in a remote parish in 18503 Scotland, it tells the story of three sisters and their painful transition to womanhood in a society stifled by rigid patriarchal and religious codes. The central character Emmy, together with her sisters and their nannie, played with warmth and
3 humour by Muriel Romanes, inhabit a world whose fragile order is shattered ' when forces of desire and repression
collide.
The play focuses on the anguish caused when Emmy (an energetic performance by Harley loudon) falls in love with Stephen, her best friend’s fiancé. Stephen’s character however is so sketchin drawn that it is impossible to believe in this
relationship, which weakens much of the play’s emotional thnist.
Whilst the cast is strong - the spirited female characters contrasting nicely with their inept male counterparts (an ailing father, a ‘flapping‘ husband and a pompous buffoon of a minister) - the constant scene changes, which would appear seamless on screen, hamper the narrative flow of the piece.
Unfortunately, the brooding sense of doom the play promises is never fully realised, possibly because moments of tragic intensity are played with too much melodrama for a cynical 1990s audience. Although flawed, The Gowit Storm is a warm, amusing and lively production and strikes several resonant chords concerning the suffocating effect of moral hypocrisy which are as relevant today as they were 150 years ago. (Cathryn O’Neill)
I TRAVERSE THEATRE Cambridge Street.
i 228 1404. [Access: 1.. Facilities: WC. Artistic Upstarts Thurs J May. 7pm—3am. E
\\'S. ll. (i. C]
3 Asylum! Asylum! Untl Sun 33 Apr. 8pm. 3 £7 (£3.50). See Touring.
The Collection Wed 3—Sun 3| May (not Mon). £8 (£2). liree preview Tue 2 May. lirein from their Mayl'est run come the 'l‘iaverse Theatre Company with a new play by Mike Cullen. he of hit show The
' (‘urtw hich he‘s currently rewriting as a
mmie). The new show takes a look at the inner life of debt collector who harbours a
seriously troubled conscience.
Play Girls Sat 2‘) Apr. 2pm. Free. New women writers showcase excerpts from their latest scripts with support from established Scottish playwrights. directors and actors.
Monday Lizard Mon 1. 8-10.30pm. Free. A new initiative to allow playwrights and rcomposers a platform to new work in an informal environment. The session. organised by Morvern McLean and dramaturg lilla Wildridge. will take place on the first Monday of each month.
This section lists shows that are touring the Central Belt. There is a phone number for each company should you require more information.
I A is for Abba Bittersweet musical comedy set against the backdrop of a 70s West Coast small town and seen through the music-tilled memories of tour old li'iends at a school reunion twenty-one years later. Brought to you by Take Two production is hose prey ious successes
IT’S BACK FOR 8 PERFORMANCES _ '
"GET ON BOARD IF YOU CAN AND RE-lIVE All THE 1960'S HITS WITH THE CRAZIEST CREW IN THE GAlAXY.
YOU'll. lOVE IT"
UVERPOOl DAILY POST
"A RAPTUROUS STANDING DVATION FOR ROLLICKING ENTERTAINMENT"
Pl YMOUTH EVENING HERALD
"etc. eoneow on euv A TICKET"
OXFORD TIMES
EDINBURGH LAYHOUE
1994 Cast
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