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| Edinburgh : A&E : Theatre: Reviews |
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Cut to the Chase Playwright - Christopher Deans. Director - Natalie Wilson. Designer - Emma Donovan. Producer - Paul Fitzpatrick. Production Manager - Craig Fleming. Cast - here . Company - Complete Seen to review at - Howden Park Centre; Livingston on 3 November 2004. 2003 Tour Dates and Times - here . Run Time - 1 hr 30 mins and interval. Reviewer - Marisa de Andrade. Knows where it's going. It's all jazz hands, tap shoes and cheesy grins, but Complete sure know how to Cut to the Chase. Christopher Dean's contemporary rendition of The Barber of Seville is fast-paced, witty and so very in the moment. Menacing soundtracks in the background threaten to burst into musical theatre style song and dance every now and then, but that's the nature of this adaptation. This farcical extravaganza is pantomime without the lyrics, but with doses of topical humour and larger than life characters. Be prepared to laugh. Cut to the Chase follows the path of child prodigy to pop princess, plus all the extra bits that young celebrities stereotypically have to deal with - possessive agents and hallmark labels. But Charlene, Michele Gallagher, doesn't take demands lightly. Her feisty persona is exhausting to pursue, but not in the least tiresome. She struts about the stage, which is decked in scaffolding and plastered walls, to the beat of her own tune. Tagging behind like puppies, are a pair of charming con artists. Their gestures are frantic, movements exaggerated and dialogue a little patronizing, but they entertain as they get carried away with themselves. Complete effortlessly deliver an eighteenth-century French farce to a young (and old) audience. With broad Scottish accents and the talk on the streets, they manage to capture the essence of the European classic, without relying too heavily on the original. The play pushes tirelessly along, and suddenly escalates to a chaotic final scene followed by a pert yet potent mini-monologue. Then it's over. I'll cut to the chase, this performance knows where it's going and doesn't stop until it gets there. © Marisa de Andrade 4 November 2004 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com Cast:Johnny McKnight, Jimmy Harrison, Michele Gallagher, Ross Stenhouse, and Linda Duncan McLaughlin. 2004 Tour Details of Complete's production of Cut to The Chase . Tour begins. 28 & 29 Oct at 7.30pm - Glasgow Tron 0141 552 4267. 2 Nov at 7.30pm - Glasgow Castlemilk Youth Complex 0141 287 9843. 3 Nov at 7.30pm - Livingston Howden Park Centre 01506 433634. 4 Nov at 7.30pm - Peebles Eastgate Art Centre 01721 725777. 8 Nov at 1.30pm - Motherwell Theatre 01698 302999. 9 & 10 Nov at 8pm - Edinburgh Traverse Theatre 0131 228 1404. 11 Nov at 7.30pm - Paisley Arts Centre 0141 887 1010. 12 Nov at 8pm - Melrose The Wynd 01896 820028. 18 Nov at 10.30am & 7pm - North Edingurgh Arts Centre 0131 315 2151. Tour ends. Theatre Editor, Thelma Good's e-mail is thelma@edinburghguide.com Although every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in these pages, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions. Theatre listings >
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