THEATRE
REVIEW The Celtic Story
Glasgow: Pavilion Theatre, until Sat 5 Sep the “Ar The first question asked at many Scottish primary schools is, ’Which foot d'ye kick with?’ — a question not likely to confuse the packed house at the Pavilion on the opening night of The Celtic Story.
And the Celtic story is what you get — over a century of the club‘s history in just under three hours, with enough facts and figures to satisfy the most hardened anorak. But if a roll-call of Celtic glory-boys and a detailed list of their wins isn‘t your idea of entertainment, there is still much to enjoy.
In the first scene we are introduced to the Burns family, celebrating Grandpa's century, and before we know it we are being whisked through 100 years of poverty, unemployment and class- struggle, as experienced by an Irish immigrant family in the East End of Glasgow.
It's a story familiar to the Scottish populace, but told here with an unashamed Catholic bias; a bias which, to a neutral bystander, can veer perilously close to the bigotry the show takes great pains to denounce. Still, for the most part the inevitable topic of Celtic/Rangers rivalry is dealt with in a good-humoured fashion and one highlight of the show is a minister's sombre condemnation of sectarian violence at a young Celtic player's graveside. (The speech, delivered
with an admirable lack of embellishment by Rab Handleigh, was awarded spontaneous and heartfelt applause.)
Politics aside, The Celtic Story’s main objective is to entertain and entertain it certainly does. Though the first half is somewhat hampered by an overload of statistics, the second half mutates into the rip-roaring musical comedy the punters really came to see. The multi-talented band turn
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Left foot forward: The Celtic Story
their hand to every musical style the past century has to offer, while the cast take up the challenge with some show-stopping moments, particularly from the ball-breakingly bluesy voice of Karen Dunban
But the night really belongs to Jimmy Logan whose deadpan grumpy Grandpa steals the show. You gotta love him - whichever foot you kick wi’. (Lindsay Ritchie)
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dance non festival listings
Drama is listed by city, then alphabetically by venue. Tourin shows are listed at the end oft e drama section. Dance is listed after drama for each city. Touring shows are listed at the end of the drama 8: dance section. Shows will be listed, provided that details reach our offices at least ten days before publication. Drama & dance listings compiled by Simone Baird.
DISABLED ACCESS KEY
Access: I’ -: I’aikittg I-‘aetliues. I’I’A = I’atktng to be l’re-.-\rranged. I. : I.eve| Access. R -~' Ralttpt‘tl Access. ST = Steps In Itt‘gttllalt‘
Facilities: we 2 Adapted Toilells‘l.
WS 2 Wheelchair Spaces. AS = Adjacent Seats. II = Ittduction Loop Systeitt. IR : lnll‘a Red System. (i = (ittitlc‘ Dogs Alloys ed. R 2 Restaurant Accessible. (' : (‘atering Accessible. T = Adapted 'I‘elepltone.
Help: A 2 Assistance .-\vailab|e. AA = Advise Venue itt Advance.
TICKET LINK
Tickets for tttajor venues itt (ilasgovs are available from the Ticket ('entre. (‘andleriggs Mon Sat I()..‘\()attt until 6.30pm itt person or until 0pm by phone on()l41 287 SSI I. Sunday opetting is noon-5pm. Atty Ticket l.ink box olTice catt sell tickets for other venues. THEATRE TOKENS
TT indicates venues \vhere Theatre Tokens catt be exchanged tor tickets.
(‘andleriggs. (ilasgovs. ()Hl 2S7 5010; most branches ot‘ \\'.Il. Smith. .loltit Menzies attd James Thin Booksellers; or by credit card from 'I‘okenltne. 0| 7| 2~I() SS00.
Kennedy Street Enterprises in association with The Celtic Dance Company Limited proudly present
Travel in Music, Song (9’ Dance through 3000 years of the Celts
Rhythms
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‘( ° ...A Magnlficent Spectacle” Irish Times
LIMITED SEASON AUGUST 4-15 EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE Tickets from 25.00.222.50 for details call soxorrtcacrtsottcmos013‘l 557 2590 Monday-Saturday Evgs 7.30 Matinees Thursday & Saturday 2.30 CONCESSIONS AVAILABLE Group sales 0131 557 0540 Corporate Hospitality 0131 557 8339
Tokens cart be botight lt'ottt Ticket Centre.
° GLASGOW DRAMA
BELSHILL CULTURAL CENTRE
Ilellsltill. 0 I (NS :(t75 I 5.
Baby Love I‘m 7 Aug. 3pm. £3.50 ( £2.50i. Harry ‘s \Mtl'ltl ts Ittrned upside dovsn \\ ttlt the arrtsal oI' a nest baby. A \\ arttt-Itearted performance by ()uickstls er Theatre (‘otttpany for children aged 3 5 years.
COTTIER THEATRE
935 Ilylttllaltd SII‘L‘L‘I. 357 .iSbS. Hooking also: Ticket Centre. (‘andlertggs see Ticket I.tttk details above.
Cyrano De Bergerac Mon 3 Sat 8 Aug. 7pm. u» tUI. Scottish Youth Theatre performs Iidss in Morgan's Scots adaption ol‘ Rostand's sysashbuckling tragi- cotttedy.
PAVILION THEATRE
Ill Rt‘llllt‘ltl SII'L'L'I. 3.“: I340 [.-\c‘ct'\\3 ST. I‘actlittes: \\'S. (i. llelp: AA]
The Celtic Story Wei! 3‘) .Iul Sat 5 Sep tnot Sutti. ' illpm. .‘slats Sat 2pm; Wed I..‘~0pm. £5 £15. Restval oI I)a\e
.-\nderson attd David Maclenttans play celebrating the legettdary I‘ootball club. See
revievv above.
RSAMD
I00 Renl‘revv Street. 332 5057. [Accessz I’I’A. ST. I.. Facilities: \\‘(‘. \\'S. II. (E. ('. Help: A. AA] Great Expectations Tue .1 Sat 8 Aug. 7.30pm. Lo (£3). Robin l’eoples directs i
Scottish Youth Theatre itt Iidvvard Argent‘s
adaptation of the famous Dickens yarn
l EDINBURGH nitrtci:
PLAYHOUSE THEATRE (it'eenstde Place. 557 2590. I:\CCL‘SSI R. I.. I'lacililies: \\'(‘. \\'S. (i. ('l ('Iosed Suns. Rhythms Of The Celts I'ntil Sat IS Aug. 7.30pm. Thu & Sat mats 2.30pm.
£5 £33.50 (phone Ior details oI concessions I'or individuals attd group bookingsi. The \soI'ItI\s itle history the (‘eltic people. told by a cast ol~ 50 iii a lively combination ol' music. dance attd
Singers and Dancers, Fiddles C?
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Bod/)mns Pipes {9' Drums
6» 13 Aug 1998 THE LIST 112