THEATRE previews
BAWDY BARD Twelfth Night
Stirling: MacRobert Arts Centre, Sat
0 Jul. .
If you think the world of Finbar Saunders is a long way from that of Shakespeare, you need to talk to Oliver Gray of Illyria urgently. His production of Shakespeare's comedy of lust and errors lays its emphasis on the Carry On side of the Bard. Gray explains his differences with the traditional view of Shakespeare: ’If you've ever laughed at the line "that looks like a nice, juicy pear", you may be surprised to find that Shakespeare was saying the same thing all those years ago - there's a huge amount of smutty innuendo.’
The play, which tells of a shipwrecked twin brother and sister, Sebastian and Viola, who, washed up in a strange land, encounter love and
enmity from its noble inhabitants. Almost inevitably, Viola has to disguise herself as a boy, and much sexual misunderstanding follows. The problem, for 20th century audiences, has traditionally been around the character of Malvolio the moralist, who is falsely imprisoned as the result of a prank by the hedonistic pisshead, Sir Toby Belch.
How does Gray resolve the problem? ’Well, he’s a Mary Whitehouse figure — we want to laugh at him and see him
SCOTTISH REVIVAL
The Steamie
Glasgow: Pavilion Theatre, Wed
l4—Thu 22 Jul. Tony Roper’s comedy, which locates
four women in the Glasgow laundry of the title on a Hogmanay night in the 505, is, along with John Byrne’s The Slab Boys, perhaps the most durable play of this generation. First produced in 1987, this revival follows much international and national acclaim. What's the secret?
Barbara Rafferty, who plays Margit, a middle-aged woman with a husband who is characteristically drunk before the bells, thinks that the authenticity of Roper's representation of the women of the period is at the heart of the play. 'I remember these women, they’re like the women in my family at the time. Women didn't have the political power they do now, so they had to fight really hard to get any
recognition. So people say it’s very funny, and it is, but it's
also quite moving.’
For all that, the play is no feminist diatribe, but rather a quiet recognition of the role of women in this society. Rafferty emphasises the humour of the piece, and its use of popular song. In part, much of the joy of the play comes
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suffer. Only at the very end do we see him as human, and that leaves us with a few questions. The critics see, this play as grim, they talk about references to Autumn in the play, but I counted five, while there's over 150 references to sex.’ Point taken. Illyria will take this production to the Fringe, so it’s a first chance to see what looks like following their The Tempest of two years ago with another success.
(Steve Cramer)
Steam of consciousness: The Steamie
from its sense of throwback to older popular forms. 'There was no fourth wall in those days,’ says Rafferty. ’The audience were there to instruct you if you were rotten, we don't expect that in the theatre now, of course, but it’s that kind of play.’ So don’t heckle, but go and remember what it was like when you could. (Steve Cramer)
theatre
listings
Drama is listed by city. then alphabetically by venue. Dance is listed after drama for each city. Shows will be listed. provided that details reach our offices at least ten days before publication. Drama 8: dance listings compiled by Steve Cramer.
DISABLED ACCESS KEY
Access: P = Parking Facilities. PPA = Parking to be Pre-Arranged. L = Level Access. R = Rarnped Access. ST = Steps to ne otiate.
Facilities: WC = Adapted Toilet(s). WS = Wheelchair Spaces. AS = Adjacent Seats. H = Induction Loop System. IR = infra Red System. C = Guide Dogs Allowed. R = Restaurant Accessible. C = Catering Accessible. T = Adapted Telephone.
Help: A = Assistance Available. AA = Advise Venue in Advance.
TICKETLINK
Tickets for major venues in Glasgow are available from the Ticket Centre. Candleriggs. Mon—Sat 10.30am until 6.30pm in person or until 9pm by phone on 0l4l 287 551 1. Sunday opening is noon—5pm. Any Ticketlink box office can sell tickets for other venues.
THEATRE TOKENS
TT indicates venues where Theatre Tokens can be exchanged for tickets. Tokens can be bought from the Ticket Centre. Candleriggs. Glasgow. 0141 287 59IO; most branches of W.H. Smith. John Menzies and James Thin Booksellers; or by credit card from Tokenline. 0l7l 240 8800.
GLASGOW DRAMA
BUDHILL PRE-S CENTRE
Hallhill Road. Springboig. 445 6000. Magic Bob's Cabaret For Kids Wed 21 Jul. 1 lam. Well. there‘s some laughs to be had for adults here. too. Magic Bob remains as popular on the children's cabaret circuit as ever. probably because we grown-ups want to see him as much as the kids. Free tickets on door. See Kids listings. page 72.
CLYDE AUDITORIUM Finnieston Quay. 287 7777. [P. H. WC.
WA]
The Singing Kettle Sat IO & Sun ll Jul. Sat l lam & 2pm; Sun noon & 3pm. £8 (£7); family ticket £23. Magical children‘s entertainment. See Kids listings. page 72.
COMMUNITY CENTRAL HALL
304 Mar hill Road. 445 6000. Lizzie's oon Wed 14 Jul. llam. £2 (£1). See Kids listings. page 7].
PAISLEY ARTS CENTRE
New Street. 887 mm. [H. WC. WA] Nessie The Loch Ness Monster Sat l0 Jul. l lam & 2pm. £4 (£2). Something for the little monsters to
Your at-a-glance theatre guide
Thursday 8 Friday 9 Saturday 10 Sunday 11 Monday 12 Tuesday 13 Wednesday 14 - : .. r - - s- 44.. ; -- i - ._ . , . a ____ 1 .... M - - - - :_ I u __’ " ” ’ ' ' z - - '1 I} m 535 -’ " '. -.- " '23 721:7 ; ..‘".:-;" ;-:-,-;'3: :rl.-..'.'1‘.' .. ?-,: J 3"1 E - - - Sec Ja/J. - - L“ ._ 1' -' I ...- “
50 THE LIST 8-22 Jul 1999