ThreeWeeks
WeekThree • 23.08.05
festival theatre reviewed … just for you … personally
Alcalde, in their struggle with life De Bernieres’ Sunday Morning production one step on from coming
and with each other. The story is told
At The Centre Of The World
across too much like a school play.
through a strange mixture of dialogue,
A1 Theatre Productions
Some strong female leads get the action
dance, aerobics and black humour while
Dressed in black, this hugely able youth
moving, and the soundtrack and dialogue
haunting music and lighting refl ect the
theatre group present the kaleidoscope
is tapped into the workings of a teenage
more ethereal moments throughout the
that is a South London community on
brain. Although not exactly heaving with
production. At points, this blend of
a Sunday morning. Watch with disbelief
originality or groundbreaking ideas, its
drama seems too ambiguous and you
as de Bernieres’ brutally honest portrait
readiness to tackle challenging subject
have no idea where the play is about to
of life, death and community politics
matter is commendable. [aa]
go or indeed if you want to go there.
is brought to the stage with energy and
Sweet Ego, 15 – 29 Aug, 4:30pm (5:30pm),
THEATRE
However, the play does pick up pace
charisma. I would go so far as to say an
£7.00 (£5.00), fpp 174. tw rating 3/5
before reaching a quite novel ending. [gf]
exorcist is in no way unnecessary as this
Pleasance Courtyard, 5 – 29 Aug (not 17),
young cast become utterly possessed
Monkey Think, Monkey Do
14:10pm, prices vary, fpp 160. tw rating 3/5
by the entire Earlsfi eld population. But
We Could Be Kings
I don’t mean to warn you off. This is a
Enter the world of the monkey. Hinged
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
top-quality performance that promises
on the idea of a psychological craze
Valvona & Crolla
incredibly sharp timing combined with a
that encourages people to act on their
Over the years the beautiful story of
fantastic script that will thrust you into
impulses, ‘Monkey Think, Monkey Do’,
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin has been
a whirl of humour, pathos and above all
follows the lives of three characters that
Lady In Red Certain Curtain Theatre Company
manipulated and blurred by a wall
colour. [ek]
enjoy the benefi ts and ultimately suffer
This journey of revelation and twists takes the audience through the protagonist’s
of media frenzy. If like me you are
Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House, 15 – 27
the consequences of this phenomenon.
evening of trauma and torment, as she pieces together the events that, it transpires,
intrigued by the story but do not know
Aug (not 21), 4:15pm (5:15pm), £6.00 (£5.00),
The show is carried to a large extent by a
are the climax of years of domestic abuse. Told with poignancy and honesty, the
where to start, the book, the fi lm or the fpp 142. tw rating 4/5 strong concept and talented performers
show meanders ever deeper into the disturbing reality of Rose’s relationship with her
theatre, then why not let two charismatic who demonstrate delivery skills to
husband and presents a brilliantly informative look into the mind of a woman who
storytellers guide you past the Hollywood
Stirring Shalimar Productions
match many a stand up comic. However,
simply can’t leave her situation, addressing every avenue of escape and meticulously
hype to the original story in all its raw
Riveting: the fi rst show this Festival
overly theatrical staging undermines
detailing her reasons for not being able to take them. Seamlessly moving between prose
glory. Accompanied by the beautiful
during which I have not once looked at
the strength of the more naturalistic
and poetry, this play dispels the myth that domestic abuse is class dependant. Powerful,
mandolin, this enjoyable rendition
my watch. Seven characters are looking
elements, often reducing the style of the
evocative and an aural pleasure. [jh]
takes you through the horrors of war,
for love, or for escape, on the Internet.
piece to clichéd ‘devised theatre’. Despite
Venue 13, 7 – 28 Aug, show time varies, £7.00 (£5.00), fpp 158. tw rating 5/5
the triumph of love and the beauty of
This is a play about human need for
this, the conviction with which the actors
Cephalonia. For me, the end of the play
connection. Everybody plays their role
handle this somewhat awkward style
did drag a little, however I would whole-
fl awlessly, and the characters are carefully
makes this show more than just monkey
Edward Albee’s ‘The Zoo Story’ his worldly possessions in under ten
heartedly recommend this modest, yet
developed. The soundtrack and set fi t
business. [ej]
Zoo Productions in association with Gilded Balloon seconds. As the conversation develops,
atmospheric stage version. [jmb]
well with the mood - effective use is
The Zoo, 14 – 29, 6:40pm, £6.00 (£4.00), fpp
Last year’s American election brought the intimacy of strangers emerges
Valvona & Crolla, 15 – 26 Aug (not 18, 20,
made of The Smiths’ song “Please,
165. tw rating 3/5
the repeated description of a nation and Jerry shares personal details, to
21, 23, 25), times vary, £12.00 (£10.00), ffp
Please, Please Let Me Get What I
divided, Democrat vs. Republican. Peter’s sympathy. Their talk soon enters
137. tw rating 4/5
Want” to highlight that actually no
Petrograd By Van Badham
Though written almost fi fty years ago, uncomfortable territory before ending
one gets what they want. But it stops
Prospekt Theatre
‘The Zoo Story’ comes closer to the in tragedy. Paul Nichol’s performance as
Arabian Nights: The Three
short of being too bleak; the ending is
Sometimes the effect of a moment in
truth; America is split into rich and poor Jerry is triumphant as the audience listens
Treasures Singing Harp hopeful. The language is very current,
history is not realised until years after
and the gap has never been wider. Sitting entranced and leave with something to
Another success for this New York but the themes are timeless, with
the event. Sixteen years after the Berlin
on a park bench, Peter, a well-to-do think about. [gja]
based theatre company and the highlight technology used to express far older
Wall fell, the opening of the Iron Curtain
WASP is bemused to fi nd himself being Gilded Balloon, 3 - 28 Aug (not 17), 12:15pm
once again is some beautiful music human problems. Provocative, hip, and
seems to have revealed a treasure trove
talked to by Jerry, a man who can list
(1:45pm), prices vary, fpp 145. tw rating 4/5
from harpist Alyssa Reit. The quality beautifully put together. [cs1]
of material for playwrights to explore
of the other performers is also very Underbelly, 4 – 27 Aug, 8:00pm (9:00pm), prices
and this play manages to do what no
The Devil’s Larder Grid
high, though I was surprised that this vary, fpp 182. tw rating 4/5
others have, passing comment on the
Iron (Scotland)
was not billed as a children’s show.
diffi culty of dealing with history as well
Walking out of Debenhams
It is certainly presented as one, with
and onto Princes Street after
Risk Everything The Fletcher Players
as providing excellent entertainment.
expressive acting, mime, and narration
this delectable experience
Striving to fi nd respite from the eternal
A new play is being put together by
meaning a young audience would be
was like waking from a
boredom of a mediocre life, two guys
a pair of old friends after three years
captivated while an older one might not.
wonderful dream, when
take an everyday game of Risk to the
apart; the plot subtly splices between
There is plenty of humour injected into
you’d risk sleeping in to
extreme – this is global warfare in your
their confrontations, the play itself and
this dramatic tale, and it looks superb,
recapture just a fraction of
living room. Gags aplenty in this highly
the thoughts of the writer. Add a love
especially the authentic looking costumes
the magic. Based on Jim
entertaining show featuring dialogue you
story and the plot is packed, yet always
and furniture. A fi ne show all-round,
Crace’s novella, the audience
would expect from seasoned comedy
coherently told and splendidly acted. A
though it misses a trick (and an extra
promenade through the
writers. In a similar premise to BBC2’s
triumph. [rj]
mark) by not being able to guarantee the
deserted department store,
Game On, an unemployed bum cohabits
Pleasance Courtyard, 3 – 29 Aug (not 16),
enjoyment of its target audience. [tl]
itself a mystical procession,
with a 9-5er and there’s chemistry – these
2:25pm (3:35pm), prices vary, fpp 170
Hill Street Theatre, 5 - 28 Aug (not 17), 3:00pm
to watch the chapters unfold.
guys just bounce off each other ending
tw rating 4/5
(3.50pm), £7.00 (£5.50), fpp 130. tw rating
From severe, haunting
in a crescendo of laughter. It’s a shame
3/5
staircases to the kitsch
the audience size mirrored the number
Box Of Noise Amy Ingram
fragility of the housewares
on stage as this is a comedy masterpiece
Amy Ingram is tied to the middle of the
Cave Of The Golden Calf
section, a bargain hunt
that will have you demanding your hour
stage, however hard she tugs at the ropes
Abercromby Productions in Association with
through the sale rails will
back just so you can see it again. [ckn]
they won’t give. Just like the voices in her
Assembly Theatre
ClubWEST, 14 – 27 Aug, 8:45pm (9:45pm),
head won’t give her any peace. Just like
never be the same again.
Aptly named after a 1912 nightclub and
£7.00 (£5.00), fpp 53. tw rating 4/5
this intense and physical performance
An incredible cast seems
institution, Cave of the Golden Calf won’t give us any peace. One second she
to number thousands, so
offers a delicious full-length, late-night
swift and seamless are their
Refracted Tales – The Truth
is a cockney girl dreaming of butterfl ies,
set of kooky cabaret from another
transformations. In fact
Locked Up Venue 2 Venue
the next a deranged restaurant owner
era. London electro club Kashpoint
they are just fi ve, and each
Part fairy tale, part ‘Grange Hill’, this
who hates men and veal. At times it
has sent a host of acts to Edinburgh,
and every slice they serve
piece of youth theatre was well observed
was hard to exactly differentiate the
of particular note an electrifying male
up gently reverberates as
in capturing teenage angst and family
characters, or to follow the theme of
peacock in stilettos. Eighties polka-dot
the arrow hits its target.
discontent. Three teenage girls think
captivity and repression by a society
style madam La Celine also delivers a
Faultless, enchanting and
they have terrible problems, so they
obsessed with ‘having an opinion’.
couple of achingly hip offbeat songs.
unforgettable. [jb]
run away and into a bad crowd. Drugs,
However, Ingram’s verse was skilful and
Ouch. And the genuine article Corliss
Traverse 4, dates vary, 8:15pm
always the big bad wolf of contemporary
her performance captivating, enough for
Randall, direct from New Orleans, sings
(9:30 pm), £11.00 (£8.00), fpp
cautionary tales, make an appearance,
me to say “I’m not entirely sure what it
risqué burlesque the way it’s meant to be.
142. tw rating 5/5
as does death, broken homes and
all means, but I like it!” [scr]
A professional showcase with a strong
rape. The latter, dramatically covered
Sweet Ego, 15 - 29 Aug, 7:30pm (8:15pm),
touch of old-school glamour, this show
£6.50, ffp135. tw rating 3/5
Loser Company F/Z
with sensitivity and maturity, took the
is set off perfectly by the Edwardian
Loser, as its title suggests,
ballroom of The Royal Scots Club. A
is a pessimistic yet comic
rich treat for those of you happy to pay
view of friendship, love and
loads of interviews>>
the high entry price. [lw]
tragedy. The outlandish play
The Royal Scots Club, 9 - 29 Aug (not 14, 21,
on the threeweeks radio show on festival fm 87.7
follows three characters,
27), 10:30pm (12:30am), £15.00 (£13.50), fpp
and podcasting at www.threeweeks.co.uk
played by Flick Ferdinando,
138. tw rating 4/5
Ruben Garcia and Zenaida
page 16 www.threeweeks.co.uk
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