Rating
Guide
None = Unmissable
= Unwatchable
Ultimate
Islands
Drams 
Venue Scottish International at Dynamic Earth (Venue 18)
Address Holyrood Road
Reviewer Thelma Good
Ultimate Islands gives us an alternative and very interesting interpretation
of the relationship between Robert Louis Stevenson and Fanny. It's one
I prefer to believe. In an hour and a half the play takes us through
their lives together and apart. Portraying the passion and frustrations
in a marriage of two very independent and demanding people, the play
also shows the peculiar nature of the life of a writer who tries to
live by the pen.
Michael David also wrote the play, in which he so well embodies Stevenson
who is one of my favourite writers. In Maev Alexander's Fanny we see
her grit and her tenderness and hear Fanny's extraordinary accent which
is recorded as ranging from Indianapolis to Edinburgh via London and
back again. Clive Marlowe provides good support in several other parts.
Despite a rather uneven pace on the night I saw it, the production works.
Till 20th, not 14th.
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Valentine
1980 (Page 83 )
Drams
Venue Churchill Theatre (Venue 137)
Address Morningside Road
Reviewer Thelma Good
A devised play is a difficult form. Often the audience are forgotten
in the fun of creating the play and working with the cast. Paul J Zicker
who with the cast and crew wrote the play and then directed it did not
help the Mount Vernon High School cast from Washington State, USA. The
action was stilted with the actors too often being made to stand on
the right hand side of the stage or stuck behind a long table. The story
line was good, the play itself wasn't unfortunately.
The two principals actors Doug Zwick and Sophia Christensen brought
life and truthful acting to their roles. It was a delight when they
came on stage and their last scene together was extremely good. The
rest of the cast were variable, lacking energy and failing to mime opening
and closing doors believably, those doors ended up in some weird places!
Maybe they were suffering from culture shock.
I did think the weakness of the play had not aided the rest of the cast
in doing of their best. There was one scene with a paddling pool which
was extremely odd, and several where the lines were oh so clunky. Strange
in a devised play where more usually the dialogue is naturally and well
suited to the characters. Could I suggest you look at some good modern
plays folks? Till 23rd
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Venus
and Adonis
Drams
(Good)
Venue Augustine’s (Venue 152)
Address George IV Bridge
Reviewer Colin Donati
An excellent performed recital of the not often heard Shakespeare poem
about Adonis resisting the sexual advances of a promiscuous Venus and
ending up getting killed by a boar. An added point of interest in the
performance is that Barbara Geiger, who recites entirely from memory
in perfect English, is German. The occasional oddnesses in her puctuation
add intrigue to the language. This long poem is probably not widely
read today, but giving it an airing in this way brings it to life powerfully.
Live off-the-page reading of this kind is probably how work like this
should be experienced. Performance poetry from the Elizabethan age.
Nothing is new under the sun.
Runs
till the 13th, at 21.30hrs
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William Sutcliffe's
New Boy
Drams
None
Venue Pleasance
Festival of Theatre 2000 (Venue 23)
Address 60
The Pleasance
Reviewer Thelma
Good
New
Boy was new to me, adapted by Russell Labey, from the book of the same
name written by William Sutcliffe. I went on spec cause I liked the
way I was solicited by flyer. Not knowing the book is not a problem.
Here an engaging though nerdishly and revolting boy Mark fails to sort
out his love life or indeed any life whilst trying to sort out his new
friend Barry.
Barry, a boy when we meet him begins to be matured by the sexual encounters
Mark at first suggests to him. And then Barry discovers emotions and
attachments. But Mark doesn't recognise what is happening to Barry,
to himself, his brother Dan or to either his girlfriend Louise (Barry's
sister) or to their French teacher Mrs Mumford. This able professional
cast capture well the awkwardness of adolescence and the way some people
grown up and some just don't.
I laughed a lot, and squirmed a bit remembering my past. It was great
to see the 40 something teacher getting her kicks at last. It's a play
that Russell Labey wanted to do here, my gut instinct is that his gut
instinct was right. I'll read the book now, or
after the festival at least.
Runs till 27th except 8th and 15th
at 15.00 hrs
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A Woman in Waiting
Drams None (Excellent)
Venue The Scotsman Assembly (Venue 3)
Address 54 George Street
Reviewer Richard Taylor
‘A Woman in Waiting' celebrates the South African spirit of Zulu women
from the Aparteid era to the present day. Based on the true story of
Thembi Mtshali, this play portrays the pain of separated children and
parents, white assaults on black dignity, and the struggles behind the
democratic ideal. Heavy stuff perhaps, but here political content is
kept in check by movement, language and song all reminiscent of the
African oral traditions. Locking these elements into place is some excellent
imaginative work reinforced by canny props and clothing. All at once
there is a defenceless child, a police raiding party, a bemused Zulu
mother, a massed crowd... Completely unsentimental, the play's only
serious drawback is the number of people available onstage: one-handers
are notorious for their inability at portraying unfolding relationships,
and this is never fully resolved despite some good attempts.
Animated, imaginative and touching, the performance is from one of South
Africa's finest performers and simply deserves to be seen.
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Words on Stone
Drams
Venue Diverse Attractions (Venue 11)
Address Lawnmarket
Reviewer Colin Donati
Tweed Theatre present a relaxing medley of excerpts from Scottish poetry
on the theme of stone woven together with a little music and song, not
to mention one (loose) semi theatrical excursion. The quality of the
performances are mixed, but it makes for a gentle and unpretentious
late afternoon offering. The effect works best when the group stick
close to the theme and let the words of each recitation speak for themselves.
The short excursion into Pyramus and Thisbe on the other hand, though
fun, didn’t come off quite so well. Most of the extracts are short.
For example, MacDiarmid is represented with barely ten lines - but what
a ten lines! - a memorable phrase from ‘Raised Beach’ and the short
Scots poem ‘The Bonnie Broukit Bairn’ which is about the ‘third stone
from the sun’. Absolutley apposite to the proceedings, and always a
pleasure to hear. One section that gelled with particularly beautiful
effect was the medley from four of Scotland’s lately missed poets, MacCaig,
Mackay Brown, Sorley McLean and Iain Crichton Smith.
I have to admit to a personal interest in this production, having been
asked for the use of a poem of my own in the set, though I’ve never
met any of the reciters before. I might be biased, but was very pleased
with the way it was performed and grateful for the chance to hear it
- particularly with the music selected to accompany its recitation.
I feel privileged to have been included in the company.
Runs till the 12th, at 17.30hrs
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The Zoo
Drams
(grand)
Venue Rocket@Theatre Arts Centre(Venue 16)
Address 10 Davie Street
Reviewer Claire Devlin
As Tom Lehrer so elegantly expressed it, "One can always count on Gilbert
and Sullivan for a rousing finale, full of words and music, and signifying
nothing". Though only half the famous duo was involved in this production
(Sir Arthur Sullivan with Bolton Rowe), does the above still hold? And
is forty minutes long enough for a musical? Edinburgh University Savoy
Opera Group think so and chose The Zoo for their return to the Fringe
after a two-year absence.
Their choice has many benefits: Yes, the plot and songs are nonsensical,
but hey, aren't they all? The show has great visual potential, which
the group fulfil, and the length of the musical leaves fans begging
for more, whilst non-fans and operetta virgins will not be put-off.
The story, such as it is involves poor Aesculapius Carboy (Alistar Mill)
who is in love with Laetitia (Loretta Hopkins). Her father (Sean Macbride-Stewart)
disapproves of the match, so Aesculapius decides his only option is
to commit suicide...and where else to do this but at the zoo? Before
you get worried, please remember this is a Sullivan musical: a happy
ending is virtually guaranteed. Whilst obviously an amateur production,
with minimalist set and cute, homemade costumes, the cast are most professional.
The four main actors have great voices and projection, and in the case
of the men, wonderful facial expressions. The chorus are spirited and
amusing, especially the polar bear re-enacting a recent soft drinks
advert. However the highlight of the show is the evil penguin - a constant
menacing presence who flits between suspicious friendly dancing and
malevolent acts on the leads whilst also looking rather loveable in
his fluffy costume!
The production is lively, fun and full of words and music. Far from
signifying nothing, it shows Savoy as great promoters of Sullivan's
work.
Running until 19th (not 13th) 19:35
