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OWEN O’HEILI.
Owen O’ltelll: humour born oi hard knocks
There is humour born of a cold cynicism, there is humour born of absurd observations and then there is Owen 0’lleill’s brand of comedy which,
tells the story oi his early adulthood spent on the construction sites oi london as a hull carrier.
0i course, B’lleill has no intention oi being a brickies’ goier all his Ilie, he has plans, he’s going to travel, he’s going to be rich. iie’s going to rot away his early twenties, ilogging his guts out to earn a pittance to piss up the wall. Still, his mates are alright, ii resigned to their late and he has iew problems iinding female company, even ii all they want is a bit oi rough. Welcome to O’lleill’s world and his slow realisation that there is more to liie than pipe dreams and booze.
0’lleill relates his tale with passion, wit and an unsettling honesty both in his own mistakes and towards his audience. liis gags, as they are, provoke mirth and, more often than not, an aching lump in the throat. This is intelligent and thought-inducing comedy. (Jonathan Trew)
like life, is a blend oi the two, weary experience mixed with ridiculous optimism. lleither stand-up nor straight theatre, O’lleill’s monologue
Shouting From The Scaffolding (Fringe) Owen O’Neill, Traverse Theatre (Venue 15) 228 1404, until 25 Aug, 10.30pm, £8 (£6).
they don't there’li be another gag along in a moment that does do the trick. The REM impersonation is still the best bit though. (Jonathan Trew)
I History Of Comedy (Fringe) Corky And The Juice Pigs. Assembly Rooms (Venue 3) 226 2428. until 24 Aug.
l0. l0pm. £8l£9 (£7/£8).
THEATRE REVIEW
REMEMBRAHOE OF EOOAR ALLAH POE
As far as bedtime stories go. Edgar Allan Poe is the prime candidate for inducing nightmares. Sadly. all George Dillon‘s stark. extended impression does is act as a cure-all for Fringe insomniacs. lnterspersing biography with a dramatic portrayal of 'The Raven”. there's little point to the exercise apart from allowing Dillon the fantasy-wish-fulfillment opportunity to mouth off in bombastic fashion as his much-revered literary icon. While the lighting is effective. it only helps make the whole thing look like a cheap Hammer horror rip-off minus the
cleavages. Guaranteed to make one wander home weak and definitely weary. (Neil Cooper)
I Remembrance 0i Edgar Allan Poe Vital Theatre. Pleasance Two (Venue 33) 556 6550. until 3i Aug (not Tue) ilpm. £5 (£4).
***
BIO VALUE COMEDY SHOW
This show's title describes this largely excellent cabaret perfectly: four quality acts for the price of one. Jo Caulfleld comperes with ease. her breezy style well suited to her role and herjoke competition isjoyfully dumb. Mike Gunn‘s grave. blacker-than-black humour is a little uncomfortable at times. but always piercingly funny. Tony Roche‘s poetry is of a much gentler hue. but nonetheless pacey and sharp. surreal and embittered. while Jack Russell has the most relaxed style of all. his scatological charm useful when organising a hundred voice ‘Fuck off' to one disruptive visitor. All told. top comedy. top value. (Phil Miller)
I Big Value Comedy SIlBW (Fringe) Screaming Blue Murder Company. The Cafe Royal (Venue 47) 556 2549. until 3| Aug (not 29) 10pm. £6/£5.
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BIB AHO BOB’S All NEW 1994 SHOW
This is the type of show tha. would have even the most ardent liberal condoning censorship. Childish. sick and depraved. Logan Murray and Jerry Sadowitz set out to break every taboo in the cause of comedy. Just when you think they can‘t wallow in the filth any longer they start drinking the stuff and spewing it back out. And it's funny. sometimes.
it’s not for everyone and halfof it will make you cringe rather than laugh. Still. given the current wave of emotional warmth which seems to be sweeping the Fringe comedians at present. it‘s refreshing to see an act driven by bitterness and fuelled with a twisted hatred of everything. (Jonathan Tr_ew) I Bill and Bill's All IIBW 1994 Show (Fringe) Assembly Rooms (Venue 3) 226 2428. until 3| Aug. 1 1.45pm. £9.50/£8.50 (£8.50/£7.50).
Rgeviw star ratings
Unmissable Very good
it w it Worth seeing it w Below average it You've been
warned
...._ ... fer .
.Iohn Fealey: llkeable but lame
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JOHN FEALEY
John Fealey lives in Amsterdam and he's way into releasing inhibitions and like really getting to know his audience. But there is a subtle difference between group therapy and stand-up comedy and no amount of nice guy chit-chat will make the two compatible. To be fair. his free-form style of humour has much to recommend it. We all bond over the hideously sweaty room and it is hard to say when the set begins and his apologies for the state of the venue end. But he wants us to like him. to laugh at him and agree with him — and that kind of pressure can kill laughter dead. (Catriona Craig)
I John Fealey (Fringe)
John Fealey. Gilded Balloon (Venue 38) 226 2151. until 31 (not 29) ll.45 pill. £6 (£5).
***
MARVIN HAHOLIOER’S
Oasis aside. musical impressionists aren‘t the most appealing prospect. and are usually just too darned smart for their own good. Marvin Hanglider is such a charmer on the old joanna though that you can‘t help but raise a smile at his — oh. alright then — clever-clever interpretations of Hupp)’ Birthday. which takes in everything from Chopin to Cage. Peppered throughout with amiable. nice bloke banter. there’s real jm'e de vivre on display here. lt’sjust a shame Hanglider’s been
sanctioned off to the witching hour. because the only thing he missed tonight was the Marilyn Monroe version. (Neil Cooper)
I Marvin iianglider’s Complete History 0i Music And Bicycles (Fringe) Highly Recommended. The Cafe Royal (Venue 47) until 31 Aug, l2.30am; Graffiti (Venue 90) 24/25 Aug. 6.30pm. £6 (£5).
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MISSING KISSIHGER
This series of pint-sized comic monologues taken from the stories of lsraeli writer Etgar Keret and delivered lewdly by Uri Hochman start off like Garrison Keillor-type boyhood nostalgia. but end up like a Tom Waits routine as delivered by Robin Williams. Aided by playful keyboard backing. Hochman trawls through the absurd pecadillos of an Israeli adolescence. featuring virginity loss. class bullies and more. A mysogynist streak pervades throughout, but Hochman is funny enough to (just) get away with it. Girls. though. be careful. Don‘t sit too near the front unless you want your reputation besmirched forever. (Neil Cooper)
I Missing Kissinger Uri Hochlnan. South Bridge Resource Centre (Venue 123) 558 999i. until 31 Aug (not Suns) 10.30pm, £5 (£4).
CONTEMPORARY PREVIEW
Gogmagogs
String playing with a dliierent approach is the main idea behind the Bogmagogs, a young ensemble oi
classically trained and highly skilled ii musicians who have got rid oi all the . . _. ”’3 usual necessities such as music, a g on...“ (a in. conductor, music stands and chairs to eogmagog ”1de iii nearing bring about a theatrical ireedom in their presentation oi works which Bogmagogs have since played to sell have been specially written ior them. out audiences at the lCA and the
Born oi a group who iound South Bank in London. “it’s very themselves playing classically in visual,” says Catchpole, ‘and with a Cambridge, they were, says artistic very physical language. The most director llell Catchpole ‘iasclnated in important thing to us is to make music going further together and wanting to and movement totally intertwined so burst out oi the traditional set up. We that neither ls more important than were looking ior something new and the other.’ Everything in their exciting and were lucky enough to programme has been written with this hear about lucy Bailey, now co- in mind and includes works by Jane artistic director. We started talking Gardner, Roger fine and Stephen about her background as a theatre Warbeck. (Carol Main) - director and ways of combining the The Bogmagogs (Fringe) Reverse two disciplines.’ Them (Venn 15) 228 1404, 27-31
That was three years ago and the Aug, 10.3mm, £7 (£4).
The List 23 Aug-5 Sept l996 49