Unusual suspect: Paul Thomas Hickey

CONTEMPOARY DRAMA Mainstream

this show and of the entire art form.

Cuthbertson rise magnificently.

sent its way. (Rob Fraser)

Edinburgh: Traverse Theatre Tue lC—Sun (4 Mar. 1%: at w sir 3%

Suspect Culture's latest production is not so much a play as it is a succession of theatrical gambles, each of which pays off spectacularly to the benefit both of

The central concept of the piece -- four actors play two characters enacting slight variations on a series of scenes ~ makes huge demands on the cast. Their performances must be perfectly synchronised, since they are required to create echoes of each other through the most subtle of gestures and recurring verbal motifs. At the same time, it is they who must bring emotional warmth to the piece and prevent it ever becoming a cerebral exercise. These are challenges to which Louise Ludgate, Paul Thomas Hickey, Kate Dickie and Callum

With lesser talents than director Graham Eatough and writer DaVld Greig involved, the shortness of the early scenes and the lack of information provided may have proved irritating for the audience. Instead, they are intriguing, steadily drawmg us in to the hypnotic rhythm of the play as a whole: the pacmg seems both highly deliberate and wholly natural, organic even.

Greig has stated (in this very magazme) that he wanted under-statement wherever possible for this play, but he’s not managed to imbue this spirit of restraint to the nation's theatre critics, who have waxed rhapsodic in support of the piece. And no wonder, because mainstream is worth every word of praise

GREENOCK ARTS GUILD

Campbell Street. ()l-l75 723038. [H. WA] The Glass Menagerie Thu I l Mai: 7.30pm. £6 (£5). Flexible Deadlock present Tennessee Williams' heady southern drama.

experiences from tenements to high rise. presented by the Dear Green Project. The Glass Menagerie Thu 4 & Fri 5 Mar 8pm. £6 (£3). Flexible Deadlock present Tennessee Williams' heady southern drama.

EAST KILBRIDE ARTS CENTRE

()ld Coach Road. Fast Mains. East Kilbride. ()l3552 6l()()(). [Accessz R. Facilities: H].

Last Stand Fri l2 & Sat l3 Mar. 8pm. £6 (£3) Glasgow collective Vanishing Point explore notions of brotherhood. memory. time and reflection in a typically innovative visual fashion. Know Nothing Norman Sat 13 Mar. 2.30pm. See Kids listings.

The Pied Piper 0f Hutchesontown . . . the real Gorbals story. Tue 9 Mar 7.30pm. £6 (£4) One family's

KING'S THEATRE

297 Bath Street. 287 SSl l. [H. WC‘. WA] Martin Guerre Until Sat 13 Mar. 7.30pm; Wed 8; Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm. £7—£25.5(). Lavish musical love story from the creators of Les Mir.

The Pirates Of Penzance Mon l5—Sat 20 Mar. 7.30pm; Wed 8: Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm. £5-£23.50. Paul Nicholas stars in the perennial G & S crowd pleaser.

PAISLEY ARTS CENTRE New Street. Ol4l 887 lOlO. Viper's Opium Wed l() Mar. 7.30pm. £6

(£2). Starving Artists' innovative vision of l.os Angeles life.

RAMSHORN THEATRE

()8 Ingram Street. 287 55 l l. [P. WC. WA. WAA] ,

Fear And Misery Of The Third Reich Tue 9—l-‘ri [2 Mar. 7.30pm. £3 (£2). Bi'echt‘s eyewitness account of the rise of the Nazis.

A Mydsommer Nightes Dreame Until Fri 5 Mar. 7.30pm. £3 (£2). Shakespeare at his most enchanting. Lovers. fairies. and a man called Bottom.

Sexual Perversity In Chicago Tue l6-Sat 20 Mar. 7.30pm. £5—£7

l .5()—£3). David Mamet explores the single life in the windy city.

Continued over page

. listings THEATRE

Scottish Dance Theatre Comeback kids Scottish Dance Theatre embark on a Spring tour that promises to build on recent success. Mixed bills can bring mixed fortunes (the last tour was testimony to this), but Pit Fong Loh's joyous Ghost Opera is reason enough alone to see this show. See Dance listings.

Mainstream Suspect C ulture’s new show stakes an early claim for the title ’last great play of the Millennium.’ This is a work which engages the mind and heart in roughly equal proportions. Edinburgh: Traverse.

Phaedra's Love A Tragedy overshadowed by a tragedy, the late Sarah Kane's play demands attention as, above all else, a piece of theatre. Director Peter Mackie Burns and his cast would probably give anything to escape the attention suddenly thrust upon them, but at least they shouldn't need to look far for inspiration. Glasgow: Citizens.

This grid includes theatre and dance performances at Glasgow and Edinburgh's main theatres. More information, including events at smaller venues, can be found in the listings above and over the page. Performances shown in brackets are free or reduced price previews.

Thursday 11 Friday 12

Saturday 13 Sunday 14

Monday 15 Tuesday 16

Wednesday 17} Thursday 18 :

Hess Is Dead Hess/From Where . . Hess/From Where . . l l

Poe Double Bill

Poe Douth Bill l Arches

NC“ .\10\ L‘\

New Moves

New Moves New Moves

E James Arnott

Mr Puntila Mi' Punlila i

Mr Puntila i -- i —-

! Kevin's Bed Kevin's Bed

Keir-86“ I Citizens’ Main

l’liaedi'a's Li H e l’liaedt'a's Lin c

Phacdi'a's Love - _

Monumental Monumental

Monumental

5 Citizens’ Circle

. . . . . . ' l Maitin (JUL’I'T'L‘ Martin Guerre Martin Guene ,2 3 Pirates ()t Pen/ance ; Pirates ()1 Pen/.ance Pirates ()t Pen/ance ; Pirates 0! Pen/.ance S If See Classical See (‘lassical See Classical See Classical

3 Scottish Dance Tlieatref - _

~ l Paisley Arts

l'cai’ a; Misci) l-eai' tk Misei)

Sexual Pei‘sei'sity Sexual Pei'vei'sil)

SexualPervei'sil)‘

cutie-i Milk warm 1 Under Milk wttuu l ~- : - i Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean l RSAMD tout See knit See Kids : Theatre Royal l 1 i _ l _ _ * lloine - " T l Km in's Bed Kevin's Bed KevtnR Bed Sec Kids

l Scottish Dance 'iTieatiel B

Cra/y For You

C m/. y For You

Church Hill

SCL‘ Kit“

See Kids See Kids/Classical

Crazy For You

See Classical

See Classical

: Festival Th

Frankie a;- Johnny ; Frankie & Johnny

l

Frankie & Johnny ~ i

- l Gilded Balloon

\lc‘L‘l .\lL‘ \lc‘t'l

Meet Me

l’ci'l’cct Days Perlch Days

PCl‘lL'C‘l Days

: King's Th

Red llaired Tornado l Red llaired Tornado l Red Haired Tornado -—

l " ~

- l Netherbow

Experienced l

[Experienced - ._

3 Playhouse

« Experienced Experienced

Experienced

Royal Lyceum

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Mai y Queen

- . St Bride's

Mainstream l

Mainstream l

Mainstieain (I Mainstream [ -

- l Traverse

4-18 Mar 1999 THE LISTBT