Dumped and Devastated
‘lt’s very hard to write something funny about success,’ confesses award-winning comedienne Geraldine Mcllulty when considering why all the characters in her new show are such losers. ‘lt’s the root of all humour, really. There is great comedy out of great tragedy.’
With the merest re-arrangement of her facial features and clothing (it really is amazing how many variations on a theme you can get from a long red jersey and matching belt), Mcllulty’s comic monologues take us on a four de force of Britain’s secret underbelly. The side the magazines never let you see. The unsuccessful.
Betty Buchanan, a lavourite oi last year’s show, returns to share her first experience of sex at the age of 47, while ageing diva Gina lavain is attempting a comeback in a gloriously egotistical musical version of her life.
Mcllulty's characterisations work so well because she knows that rejection and failure are such a big part of our lives but that it’s difficult to admit it
Geraldine Mcllulty: gloriously egotistical
in a world which constantly bombards us with images of success. ller characters may be a little too grotesque to identify with, but we understand and can laugh at ourselves as we laugh at them. (Catherine Pound)
Dumped and De vasfafed (Fringe) Geraldine Mcllulfy, Gilded Balloon (Venue 38) 226 2151, 9-31 Aug, 4.30pm, £7.50 (£6.50).
ETOKO JAZZ DANCE COMPANY
’THE BODY OF A WOMAN IS [IKE
A POT FOR HER TEARS’
SW 1 THE RANDOLPH STUDIOS (VENUE 55)
T3 RANDOLPH CRESCENT EDINBURGH
013] 225 5366
1-] 7 AUGUST
5.30pm (6.1 5pm) £5.00 (£4.50)
COMEDY PREVIEW
CURRIED GOAT
A more amiable bunch of geezers you couldn't wish to meet. And funny with it. Having written for the likes of Clive Anderson. Spitting Image and Alan Davies. Curried Goat are bringing their own peculiar take on the live sketch show to Edinburgh. Willi plans afoot to beam characters such as sports co-anchors Bob arid Bob. the hilatiagement Consultants and the world's worst undercover agent. Harry Carter. into living-rooms via Channel 5. the trio are set to step out from the shadows of the al'orementioned acts. The spark to their writing is cunnineg simple — ‘Col‘l'ee and Tags. leading to illC()ll()l later on in the day. probably] confesses Dan Gaster. Sell-criticism also helps. ‘ll' any one of us suggests something which is particularly bad. they‘ll say ‘hang on a minute. three years ago you wrote that utter pile of shit".' admits Ben Silburn. “So that kind ol‘ bonds as all together.‘ (Brian Donaldson) I Curried Goat (Fringe) Curried Goal. The Pleasance (Venue 33) 556 6550. until 3| Aug (not I3. 27) 5.40pm. £6/£5.5()/£4 (ES/£4.50).
mum PREVIEW
THE SISTERS
There is a distinct lack of maleness in Scarlet Theatre's take on Cheklrov‘s masterpiece but they have attempted to highlight the humour. 'l'm glad we managed to get out the comedy.' admits Scar‘let‘s‘ artistic director and player ol’ ()lga.
Cirainne liyrne. ‘We're Interested in that terrible sadness seen through absurd huntour.‘
While Byrne notes that Scarlets recent productions have been set in claustrophobic worlds. she puts this down to coincidence. ‘We haven't conscioust tried to do shows about women being trapped.‘ she states. ‘We‘re more interested in good slot'les. The themes happen to be in thern.’ Similarly. The Sisters came about in an open- mirrded manner with director Katat‘/_\na |)es/c/. getting involved lll Scarlel's l‘)‘)3 workshops and eventually being asked to direct the production. ‘She'd had no
intention ol‘ doing the play
without nren.‘ recalls Byrne. ‘but she realised that the most interesting thing is the relationships of the women to each other.’ (Donald l‘lutera) I The Sisters (Fringe) Scarlet Theatre. Theatre Workshop (Venue 20) 326 5-125. I2—3l Aug. 3pm. £6.50 (£5).
**
Curried Goat: lust Hogan Joshlng
HOOFPBINTS IN THE SAND
Plays about boredom can often be very boring.
llere. writer/director Richard M l.a/at‘tr.s scents to present as with Tim Curry. Nerys Hughes. l'ier'gic and the DJ l’ronr Reservoir Dogs as the ("our Horsemen of the Apocalypse. hanging about waiting for the millennium..The writer has clearly read some good books. but great theatre ain‘t iust about quoting however eloquently all the philosophers you‘ve perused.
lisrng esercise bikes as horses is inspired and amusing but the generally competent cast struggle with the garbled dialogue and a dramatic staticity. It aims for lieckett btrt only makes it about hallway.
This tr'.’rgicorned_v is overlong. overwritten. under-directed and emotionally vactrous. The l'unniest element is that a play about Armageddon has been written by a guy called la/arus. (Grant Gordon) I lloofprints In The Sand (l‘t'inge) Aaron's Rod Theatre (iroup. (ire) l‘r'iars Klt'k House (Venue 33) 325 3626. |3~3l Aug (ttol Suns). 5.30pm. £5 (£3).
Wags tittth wee: Verygeod
tee Iorthseelul it Belowev t Tou've
The Sisters: doing It for themselves
38 The List 9-l5 Aug I996