TELEPHONE BOOKING Book Festival 0131 624 5050

Fringe 0131 226 0000

International Festival 0131 473 2000 Film Festival 0131 623 8030

nearly a panto. Great fun. (Mererid Williams) I Pleasance COLirtyard and Over The Road. 556 6550. until 26 Aug.

4.40p/7), {77—538 ($36—57).

BATTERY OPERATED BIRDS

Advice for life .000

Despite being constantly adVised as to how to live our lives

more happily, more successfully. it's not simply a case of doing what we're told. T'neatre Trash present an extraordinarily intelligent. Witty and inventive play on how extraneous adVice can ruin our lives. ‘Severed limbs are not attractive.’ we're advised. 'they're out of season]

The young cast turn

in impressive performances. and while there are still rough edges to the show. there's plenty here of genuine originality and strength to help you re-evaluate what it is that makes us happy. and why exactly advice is always easier to give than to take. (Gareth Davies)

I P/easance Iourtyard and Over T he Road. 5356 6550, until 26 Aug. 2.30pm, 5‘7—4‘860

for GLASGOW THEATRE see page 100.

'n di' “'1” {a

apnea:

ROCKET VENUE 123, INFIRMARY STREET, EDINBURGH TELEPHONE: 0131 558 9991

MIG—£7.50). THE LOVE AT LAST

Love story in creepy places .00.

Haunted or not, Gilded Balioon's Cave 3 venue lends a suitably dank. chilling atmosphere to Mike Bartlett and Dan Snelgrove's beguiling new piece of theatre. Damp odours and cold brick walls heighten the impression of a Victorian hospital bed. as we meet a surprisingly cheerful young man who's caught iii the grips of a

serious mental disorder.

Visited every day by the nurse he calls Jasmine. he sucks the audience slowly but surely into the hospital routine and the intense passion of what could either be a real or imaginary love affair. At once funny and tender. The Love at Last is an intriguing exploration of the imagination and how it plays tricks on us all.

(Catherine Bromley)

I Gilded Ba/loon Cowgate ~ Caves /,//,///. 226 2 75 7. until 26 Aug, .’;‘.-J:'>p/7i, 5‘/' 5‘8

il‘e‘ 5‘2).

SWIMMING IN THE SHALLOWS Fishy relationship tale .0.

Barb only wants eight things in her life her husband Bob isn't one of them. Donna wants to marry Carla but has to give up smoking first she has no will power. And Nick? Well. he's a serial shagger who's just fallen in love with a shark a real shark. Considerably kooky but sharp enough to keep the audience hooked. Canadian author Adam Block's new play deals with the

Steven Berkoff‘s West, at the Assembly Rooms, see page 79

OUTRAGEOUS NEW AMERICAN COMEDY!

‘Best NCW in Boston’ THEATRE MIRROR aosrorv GLOBE

31 July a 25 August

0311337

venue34

ADAM HOUSE

CHAMBERS SIRE-FT

0870 701 5105

“...subtle, witty

and clever...” THE LIST

by Brandon

annpnv

LIII'L‘L'IL‘LI IN" Betsy Carpenter

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2002

wivmedfringe.eom

Fringe Box Office: 0| II 226 0000

.-‘.’ Au. Sep Riltl? THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 75