FRONT-OF-HOUSE FESTIVAL 95
carry on at the Fringe assists performers’ bottom line
one-woman show depict Ms Lacy with her modesty protected only by a flimsy skirt fashioned from ring doughnuts. A powerful statement asserting that bakery products are indeed a feminist issue or a cheap attempt to attract the attention of male picture editors? ‘Women have been through this period where to be sexual was regarded as politically incorrect and I always try to be as incorrect as possible.‘ says Lacy. ‘I just thought “Well fuck it. I wanna wear my underwear onstage and I don‘t see anything wrong with women being sexual." '
Another blow for female emancipation has been struck by the ironically titled Cambridge Feminist Review whose play Spunk boasts bikinis. big guns and. inevitably. a climax. Unlike Lacy. Spunk's performers seem unrepentant at any suggestion of using sex to sell their show. ‘Yes. undoubtedly.‘ says Lisa Montoriiery. ‘Obviously we‘re being tongue-in-chcck but we've found that it definitely pulls the punters. It‘s such a competitive thing. the Fringe. that to be more outrageous gets you more attention and that's what we‘re after.‘
It looks as iftbis may well be another vintage year for Knox—like (John or Moira. either will do) outrage. but is
It’s a dirty job but someone had to do it. Jonathan Trew trawls the Fringe programme for shows promising naughty bits, and asks whether publicity—hungry performers are turning Edinburgh into the biggest peep-show in the world.
‘No sex please. we‘re British' has long been the rallying cry of the stiff-lipped inhabitants of these isles. Not that we’re averse to a hint of slap and tickle behind the net curtains. it‘sjust that public displays of carnality bring out the bashful in us. Fringe shows. on the other hand. offer the perfect chance for a spot of voyeurism disguised in the respectable cloak of theatre. And don't the Fringe companies know it. Bums on stage means bums on seats.
One person who remains resolutely untitillatcd is Moira Knox. Conservative district councillor and guardian of Fringe morality. whose bouts of August outrage are becoming
legendary. After lesbian trapeze act L '9' ‘29 a"; the ticker-buying PUth Wally that
Club Swing were described as ‘a dirty- “ - ", ' '_' - " ~ , a“ .I shocked? ‘From the bulk of the
minded disgrace' by Knox in the News ’ ' " . " complaints that we got. and we got a
“f "16’ WOT/(1‘ lhc Chhlphh)’ Pm'hhlly Club Swing: undoumedly this years best |esbian "apeze act from Austrana fair few each year.'very few of them.
slapped the quote on their publicity ever related to nudity.‘ recalls Mhairi
posters. ‘As disapproved of by Moira ‘We go to the theatre to be entertained ltUdCS at the National Gallery. remains MilCKCItZiC-ROhhtSOn- ‘lfthcy did.
Knox'. has become a badge of honour and if this is their idea ofenteitainment UttCOttVtttCCtl that the Fringe is ' Wilding hCIWCCh “‘0 “"05 “mum
in some Fringe circles. well. words fail me.‘ A flick through becoming a frenzied fTeslipot. ‘Thcre‘s sometimes imply that there wasn't
Knox is convinced that the use of sex the Fringe programme unearths several always been an element of nudity and l enough 0t~ it.
or nudity to sell fringe shows is on the shows which boast ‘adult themes' thCI'C'S always been sex and it‘s always i I Club Swing The Palladium. l2
increase. though she‘s more concerned though there is a suspicion that this is hCCtt Used to sell shows.‘ she says. ‘l j Aug—3 SCI" (not 13. 30). 1 1pm;
that unsuspecting culture vultures are more of a promise than a warning. .lUSI lhhtk thilt PCUPIC Pity tttOI‘C ‘ I Spank C VCttttC. 9 Aug—2 Supt (ttOt
being lured into seemingly innocent Mliairi MacKenzie—Robinson, the attention to it and more column inches I 31). 9.10pm;
shows which are unexpectedly explicit. long-serving Fringe administrator who 1111' (lCWlCtl t0 hf ' I Tania Lacy Fl'lhgc Ch‘hv ‘2 Aug—3
‘I just don‘t understand.‘ says Knox. is now in charge of publicising classical FUN?" h)" "\llhh‘ilhilh Tilhhl Lucy‘s SCI“ (“0‘ 3 I ls 730W"-
dalliancc at the cheese counter in” spokesman. A hint of uncertainty I exchange as‘Edinburgh's more
there‘s any way I could meet Rhona. remains. however. because the l‘CSllVitl established festivals. canine able perhaps I could show her that a shows a surprise film. Last year's l out dependable price—checker is :1 steady surprise was widely known to be
FOHOWihg 1‘ lhhg'h‘hfhhhh 0f ShOWhlZ guy to be with} gjuhg David. Tarantino‘s Pulp I-‘r'r'n'on but this year First the bad news: the magnificently
dogs from chic Winter‘ and h ‘ Festival director Mark Cousins is i titled Fringe show I.(l(/_\' Mother/i
SChhorhhz ‘0 thhh our)" Funny I" deniaI determined the film remain a secret i I'irnml My Bur/(irks has been cancelled
Hugh LCthh afrh’CS in Edinburgh Whh until the credits roll. The door. it seems. after the loss of its lead actressjust
his amazmg Hypho'DO‘c’ called 03C“ remains slightly ajai' for Four Rooms. before rehearsals were due to start. The
Lemon» Who was UhCOthmblC h)’ - 9 comedv about an amateur production of
lCICPhOhY' telepathy 0r hh)’ 0‘th kihd Feellng lu0ky! punks ' Mar/win which gets taffled tip with a
0f PSYChiC communications Claims lhal The Festival season started early this step class needed a fit. young Scottish
his mu" Wm pm you in ‘1 "ancc- You“! year as Edinburgh was unilaterally itctt'CSS itt ShOtt notiCC 10 Plil)’ thC
have 10 he barking ‘0 "011 hlccr- declared the European City of Funk aerobics instructor. No joy. ‘.»'\nyone
Aisle of men Rock I995. The programme features a ftlttithlc ‘WZIS Cth‘I' 0" hhhtht)’ 0r ht _ daily cider-drinking workshop and a lussurt. says dh'CCh’l' CCClhh DChlh’“
I" [he gOOd Old days“. heller YUPPlCS series of suprisingly healthy activities of Reservoir Kittens. A call to Scottish
were invented and out—of-town like five-u—side football (‘defy anarchy Television confirmed that an episode of
shopping centres were Sh“ 11 glcalh in and compete?) and a trip to the the police procedural had just finished
some low" f’lhhhcr'S Cyc~ the Commie baths (‘punx in trunx'). The shooting with another one due to start
Mor'hthidC hthh 0f SthWhW "UlCd- Fans of the Alan J. Pakula film All I/Il’ organisers. if that‘s not too any day. At time of going to press we
For one adOIC-‘iccm Edinburgh hid it President '5 Men. which dramatised the authoritarian a word. are hoping for a were unable to discover whether either
3'90 hOldS thCmOFiCS Of his first ilthh The Washington Post Watergate trouble-free festival despite punk contains a disproportionate number of
Uhrc‘thCd‘ IOVC- HCI’ hilthc W115. and investigation. will remember a curious clashes in Germany. Survivors of the fit young Scottish lasses.
Pmbah')’ Sh” l5. RhOhil MilClCilh and term which arose from the White recent skirrnisb in Hanover are
for D‘Md WOISIChCYOh 1" 101131. She was House handling of the story: the ‘non- expected to arrive this week with tales
the Cheekom girl from hChVCh- SildlY- 115 denial denial‘. It's a tactic the Film of police harassment. ‘The Edinburgh I Big Blue Edinburgh‘s first gay Fringe
a mere Shelf'Sl‘chh DaVid "CVCF 2.10! Festival seems to be applying to police have been handling things more venue. Bluefest. has run into problems
the Chance [0 ChCCk her GUI and inquiries about the rumoured sensibly,‘ says spokes-nt [)ck; after Caltori Studios changed hands
Rhona's heart probably went to one of Edinburgh premiere of the new Quentin McKenzie. ‘lf they leave us alone we recently. The organisers from the Blue
those swaggering grocery buggers. But Tarantino movie Four Rooms which can police ourselves.‘ With punks Moon Cafe have decided to pull out of
"(W Dav“! is returning [0 Edinburgh features the reservoir dog himself and travelling from as far afield as South the venue and are currently trying to
W'lh ‘1 Show Called She/fill? 11” about three hip. young gunslingers. ‘It‘s not Africa and Bosnia. City of Punk Rock find an altemative. Call 0131 557 89H
supermarket-q and renewed hOPC Ora true . . . as far as I know.‘ says a EFF embodies the same spirit of cultural for details.
The List 11-17 Aug 1995 7