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Rating Guide
None = Unmissable
= Unwatchable
Page number refers to the Fringe programme
Check
out Pat's preview
of the music at this year's Fringe.
| (A-I)
4
out of 12 |
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Frank and
Rosy (page76)
Drams
Cast
and Production Andy
Briggs (Frank); Tracy Downing (Rosy); Doubletake Productions
Venue Rocket @ St John's Hall (Venue 126)
Address West End, Princes Street Edinburgh
Reviewer Gus Macdonald
Frank
and Rosy is a wonderful piece of entertainment that is, self confessedly,
mainstream and accessible. In the unlikely setting of a marriage in trouble,
writer Andrew Bailey presents us with a "feel- good" musical that examines
the perennial problem of male and female incompatibility. Be it through
the posturing teens, mid-life crisis or retirement, each age is shown
in both an amusing and touching fashion with Andy Briggs (Frank) and Tracy
Downing (Rosy) managing to successfully portray their characters through
this progression, thanks to some deft costume changes and superb stage
direction. Their singing also passed the test in comfortable fashion although
some numbers were noticeably stronger than others - quite inexplicably
this did not correlate to the level of difficulty!
The production would certainly have profited from a larger stage; proceedings
appeared to be somewhat cramped on occasions, especially when trying to
portray action in more than one location. Similarly the time jumps were
not always as clear as they could be, but these are minor quibbles in
what was otherwise a quality show.
Frank and Rosy will certainly make you laugh (and possibly cry) as you
see your (and your partner's) personality traits being exposed before
your very eyes and, yes, we really are all that bad! I can also say, with
hand on heart, that before I saw Frank and Rosy I had never belly chuckled
over a crack about a tub of jellied eels in a pub - surely that has to
be worth something.
© Gus Macdonald 17 August 2001
Until the 27th August (Not Sundays) 19:30-21:00
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Godspell
- American High School Theatre Festival series (page
74)
Drams none required
Venue Church Hill Theatre (137)
Address Morningside Road, Edinburgh
Reviewer Mairi Anderson
This production by Cambden Fairview High
School Cardinal Players was bright, colourful and entertaining.
The versatile and talented cast of ten struggled a little to project into
such a large auditorium, but their acting skills were good and they used
the space well. Musical highlights for me were Jana Moll and Krystal Story
performing By my Side and Krystal's powerful rendition of O
Bless the Lord my Soul. Both girls had good voices and stage presence.
Costumes were attractive and well made, utilizing colour and fabric well
and the hats were distinctive and fun, matching the characters portrayed.
Simple devices worked well - eg the use of a large black blanket around
3 of the cast helped transform them into the angry mob at the temple.A
few simple props were cleverly used to set scenes. I particularly liked
the stepladder being used to divide levels on the stage and to represent
the cross. Lighting was simple but atmospheric. The cast succeed in creating
different moods easily, from the joy of Prepare Ye to the sweet
sadness of By my Side. I was particularly moved by the farewell
scene. So much emotion was expressed simply by the way each character
approached Jesus and took their leave of him. Humour was also an important
part of this production and there were some very funny moments, with Rian
Tuberville and Krystal standing out in the comic scenes. I was impressed
by the way they incorporated modern references - the Weakest Link, Charlie's
Angels and M & Ms - into the traditional story, with a light touch.
One minor weakness was that the piano accompaniment was a little heavy
for the size of the cast. Their voices were most effective when the whole
company sang together. I also felt that Steven Green could have been a
little gentler in his portrayal of Jesus, but his performance in the latter
part of the show was evocative and moving. This was a good show. These
young people succeeded in making the audience laugh, cry, and think and
in entertaining them well.
© Mairi Anderson. 9 Aug 2001
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Godspell
- Dundee Schools' Production
(page 76)
Drams none required
Venue Stockbridge
Parish Church (Venue 80)
Address 7B Saxe Coburg Street, Edinburgh
Reviewer Mairi Anderson
This
production of the gospel musical was lively, upbeat and well delivered.
All of the principals were excellent. Mark Keillor as Jesus provided
a strong lead. He had a good voice and stage presence, added to good
looks in the Leonardo Di Caprio mould. Chris Reid in the John the Baptist/Judas
role came into his own in the second act where he handled the powerful
emotions with maturity.
Anne Marie Wales was superb in On the Willows and stole the show
for the quality of her voice, stage presence, comic timing and sheer
personality. Chloe Wares used her lovely voice to best advantage in
By my Side and was the most gifted in expressing the emotional
depth of the story. Emma Elbuzedi and Jenny Stewart played the sexy
roles with panache and good vocalisation. Dawn Sands's voice was highlighted
in the beautiful harmonies of By my Side and she had a lightness
of touch when playing the recorder. Richard Waghorn was particularly
entertaining. Gav McLaughlin and Frank Anderson turned in good performances
too.
The whole cast sang together well and many of the strongest parts of
the show, musically, were created by the talented chorus. Costumes were
colourful, the lighting well designed and the sound quality was exceptionally
good. The stage was small in this venue, but they turned this to advantage
by moving through the audience to enter and leave the stage. This worked
particularly well dramatically when they carried Jesus from the cross.
Overall the youthful cast was stronger on the upbeat numbers. I found
the crucifixion scene a little lacking in emotion. The loudness of the
music, overproduction of dry ice and wailing of the cast were over dramatic.
The emotion was conveyed better and more subtly in their quiet, powerful
delivery of Long live God. I particularly liked the little touches:-
John "baptising" the first 3 rows with his water bottle, signing for
the deaf on Day by Day; the audience being invited to join the
cast on stage at the interval. The almost full house, warm audience
response and standing ovation supported my view that this is a show
worth seeing.
Continues on 21 & 22 Aug in the Gardyne Theatre, Northern College, Gardyne
Road, Dundee Tel 01382 464000
© Mairi Anderson. 15th August 2001
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Hamlet:
the musical (page 75)
Drams 
Venue C (Venue 34)
Address Chambers Street,Edinburgh
Reviewer Mairi Anderson
Performance
and Cast: Big
Cheese: Ed Jaspers, Alex Silverman; Dave
Dorrian (Hamlet), Joe
Wicks (Claudius), Russell
Balkind (Polonius),
Vicki Kruger,
Sophie Scott.
Hamlet:
the musical is a well crafted piece of musical theatre. The idea
of making a musical comedy of Hamlet is imaginative and courageous.
Ed Jaspers and Alex Silverman have created a clever and witty show,
blending Shakespeare's story with some of the best known song tunes
from popular modern musicals.
The cast of five are versatile and very talented. Each play several
roles and can act and sing many other theatre groups off the stage.
Joe Wicks plays Claudius with a darkly gleeful wickedness reminiscent
of Alan Wickman. Russell Balkind's Polonius is richly comic and he has
the gift of a stage presence which is naturally funny. Vicki Kruger
and Sophie Scott play all of their roles with humour, energy, sensitivity
and vivacity. Dave Dorrian captures the amusingly inept prince to a
T, yet holds the action together well.
I appreciate the wit and cleverness of this show, but for the most part
I did not find it funny. It is amusing. I particularly liked the playing
of the gravediggers as cockney chorus dancers a la Oliver / Mary
Poppins and the fish fighting finale has some nice comic touches,
but I didn't laugh out loud once. Many of the audience did, so it might
just be a question of taste. If you want to be amused, entertained and
enjoy watching talented people sing well, then go and see this. If you
want to see the kind of side splitting fun mentioned in other reviews
you might, like me, be disappointed. This show was conceived around
one outstanding original song To be or not to be. To me it feels
like the creative impulse behind this clever idea has been stretched
too thin.
© Mairi Anderson 17th August
Runs: Aug 1-26 (not 14th) 18:30-19:.35 £7.50 (£5.50)
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