Archive for category Assembly
Liberace Live From Heaven
Posted by Martin in Assembly, Brett Herriot, Liberace Live From Heaven on August 22, 2011
THEATRE**** Liberace Live From Heaven
Assembly
The man who made his name on Opportunity Knocks, Bobby Crush, returns to the Edinburgh Festival with a production worthy of the West End and Broadway. Liberace Live from heaven.
The premise of the show is Liberace has arrived at the pearly gates following his death, however Heaven is a bit busy and St Peter and God need Liberace to prove his worth, after all with Chopin and Mozart all ready in the VIPs section what can Liberace offer. The show is split evenly into two half’s, the first is fairly light and camp with Bobby taking Liberace through his repertoire of classic piano pieces with a dash of glitter. The voice of St Peter is played in a pre recorded voice over by Stephen Fry and God by none other than Victoria Wood.
It’s in the second half of the show that I was taken with Bobby’s acting ability, I never had bobby crush down as an actor I always viewed him as a ketch Cabaret artist. I was wrong he can act beautifully, where the production doesn’t hold back is the examination of Liberace’s Homosexuality, the reasons he hid it with vile lies in order to get one over on the Daily Mirror. Bobby gives a heart breaking performance as he recalls Liberace’s time with Scott Thorson the only man Liberace ever loved the law suits that occurred when the couple broke up and ultimately their reconciliation during Liberace’s dying days. Its Liberace’s death that really gets the production into thought provoking territory, Bobby in character as Liberace asks god what she was thinking off when she bestowed AIDS on the human race, its question that’s asked by those living with and those effected by those living with HIV and AIDS. The answer is quite revealing.
Using a fine blend of Comedy, Pathos and Drama, and a spectacular finale using audience suggestions that makes the whole production a winner and made me view Bobby Crush in a whole new light. Regardless of your own thoughts surrounding Liberace this is one production that should be on the must see list before the festival concludes.
Mirazozo
Posted by Martin in Assembly, Brett Herriot, Mirazozo on August 17, 2011
KIDS SHOW**** Mirazozo
Assembly George Square @ Dawn till Dusk
Set in a corner of the George square garden, Architects of air present the installation that has wowed audiences from Tel Aviv to the Sydney opera house.
Mirazozo is not a piece of performance art ,it is in fact a giant art installation using the power of natural light and colour to mould a fascinating journey through childhood dreams and hopes. You slip off your shoes and enter the airlock and completely forget your worries and strains that a day on the fringe can bring as you’re enveloped by a soundscape and visuals unlike any you’ve ever seen before. The structure is completely man made and it does breathe as each entry and exit from the airlock causes the Mirazozo to inhale and exhale air moving the structure all around you. Designer Alan Parkinson really has created a mini world of wonder with light and colour in beautiful volumes.
Mirazozo has so many possibilities both for the everyday audience member and especially those with sensory impairments and autism. It has a strange way of really pulling you under its charms and really is an extraordinary experience with in the festival. The installation runs in 30 minute session but the staff are in no hurry to remove you so it’s worth taking time to sit back relax and wonder about the possibilities of your own dreams as the light all around soothes your soul.
Medea
Posted by Martin in Assembly, Medea, Sophie Alexander on August 13, 2011
THEATRE
**
Medea
Assembly George Square
This modern day adaptation of Euripides’ classic theatrical drama, was a jumble of strange accents, a dire chorus and questionable set design, with the only redeeming feature being Nadira Janikova managing to just about drum up some stage presence.
The set seemed to think it was a space age hotel, with two sets of grey marbled elevator style doors and what looked like a prop from the Science Museum’s planetarium exhibition stuck in between them. The vast orange sun was meant to represent Medea as ‘the fiery daughter of the sun’ and thus glowed violently any time the lead was feeling particularly murderous (which was often, by the way).
Richard Fry played Jason, Creon and Aegus and to help us audience out, he kindly put on three different accents each time he swapped character, to aid us in the difficult process of understanding basic theatrical practice. Firstly, Creon spoke in quasi West County/Cornish jargon, Jason in a terrible Del Boy esque Londoners drawl; ‘Naaaaaaaaah, you won’t ‘av it’ and finally Aegus in a slightly upper crust public schoolboy manner. This at least made for some amusement
Janikova managed to convey all feelings of desperation, fury and despair and I feel she was let down by the rest of the cast. Janikova and Fry had little chemistry and at the crux of the play, when Medea has murdered her own children, a bleak wail from Fry ruined what should have been a chilling finale.
This play had some potential; the modern day text by Stella Duffy was easy to understand and fresh in its dialogue. Yet the flat delivery by all but Janikova made Medea less fire and brimstone and more sad, dying firework.
Eunuchs in My Wardrobe
Posted by Martin in Assembly, Eunuchs In My Wardrobe, Tony Challis on August 12, 2011
THEATRE
***
Eunuchs in My Wardrobe
Assembly George Square
Enter and be greeted by a tall elegant man with salt and pepper hair and a little less than European garb. He begins to talk to you about saris, with examples from the display behind him – and this man clearly loves saris. And why not, given the gorgeous garments he is showing you.
He proceeds to tell you of his life – his dual experience of India and Britain, including the detested Eastbourne. And the problems of school. And the fact that not only is he bi-racial but also bisexual – and that he was first caught and thrashed for being caught with a boy, and then caught, thrashed and further insulted when found with a girl. Not the best of both worlds there.
His fascination with the hijra, the “inbetweeners” in India who were not to be spoken of in the household of his childhood, comes over strongly.
This is a very entertaining and warm show, and Silas Carson has a strong and positive rapport with his audience. Go along and be taken in the warm glow of his world; escape grey, grey Edinburgh for the wonderful colours of saris and of the hijra and of India.
The Two Wrongies
Posted by Martin in Assembly, Sophie Alexander, Two Wrongies on August 12, 2011
COMEDY
*
The Two Wrongies
Assembly George Square
This interminable piece of dross performed by two women, who on first appearance I thought to be drag queens, should be served with a health warning: Danger to anyone who possesses an inkling of subtlety, shrewdness or intelligence and does not wish to be treated like a voyeur watching not so much a car crash but more a terrorist attack on the senses.
This piece of ‘comedy and dance’ as it is described, is a confusing mix of performance art, failed humour and pointless nudity. One sketch involved one half of the catastrophic duo, dressed in a ballerina costume, picking her nose, trying to eat her own foot and licking her nipple. I speak for myself and the rest of the audience, when I say we were all rather hoping she would choke. This display of self indulgent and patronising wannabe comedy is an insult to the few audience members that paid money to have an hour of their life crassly taken from them.
I believe the point of this façade, was meant to be some sort of illustration on comedy duo’s, done as they put it, in an ‘honest female sort of way’. This I do find funny, as I have no idea how on earth, miming fellatio and premature ejaculation is at all characteristically female. I think any woman watching this spectacle would be offended that such immaturity is akin to any sort of femaleness.
There are a fair few infamous double acts in history; Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, Fred and Roesmary West, the Kray twins, and… you see where I’m going with this. The Two Wrongies will be well known through Edinburgh fairly soon as having not only the worst show of the entire Festival but for the first riots in Scotland starting as irate audiences demand their money back.
Bang Bang Circus
Posted by Martin in Assembly, Bang Bang Circus, Joshua Hepple on August 10, 2011
DANCE
***
Bang Bang Circus
Assembly George Square
I did not know what to expect when I entered into this magnificent tent. This would be my favourite venue for its beautiful canopy and historic feeling, if it wasn’t for the absence of raised seating and lack of blackout in the day.
This performance consisted of around eight different acts, each doing a five minute set. The acts all performed some sort of physical ability from swallowing a sword to juggling to hula hooping. Individually I did not have a problem with any of the acts, but I did feel that at around £10 a ticket this is extortionate when you can see very similar acts on the Royal Mile for free everyday.
My favourite act was a smaller man from Zimbabwe who performed an excellent mime that involved being pulled around by his umbrella – he had covered himself in grey powder that gave a good visual effect.
The compere was uninteresting and did not seem to engage with the audience or ensure continuity between the acts. This however did not let the acts down completely because individually they were talented. Everyday the acts are different, so I suppose that it is difficult to comment on a show that’s varied everyday, I can only assume the standard and style will typical of this show each day.
Kevin Cruise
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Assembly, Kevin Cruise on August 10, 2011
COMEDY* *
Kevin Cruise
Assembly George Square
There are a number of acts at this year’s Fringe who found fame on Britain’s Got Talent – for some, the publicity is working well for audience numbers (e.g. Out of the Blue), but for others there appears to be no impact – the latter being the case for Kevin Cruise.
Although Kevin’s show may be amusing to some people, he was in fact a physical representation of all that is despised about ‘entertainers’ (by which I mean the red-coat type). Kevin’s singing is very average – not terrible, but nothing special, and he isn’t really all that funny – I am not surprised that the equally untalented Amanda Holden loved him. Kevin also seems to have some sort of psychological complex whereby he thinks he is playing to a much bigger audience than he actually is (thirty is not three thousand!) At times, it was unclear what the point of Kevin’s show is – he creates this whole false story about his life – is he deluded enough to believe this story or does he just use it to crave attention? The answer is unclear.
At the end of the day, Kevin Cruise is little more than a failed performer; who’s jiggling sequined man-boobs were the most fascinating thing about the show. I credit his ability to entertain some people, but that is all I credit, and I certainly wouldn’t pay to see him.
7 Day Drunk
Posted by Martin in 7 Day Drunk, Assembly, Charlotte Monk-Chipman on August 10, 2011
THEATRE
****
7 Day Drunk
Assembly George Square
Melding documentary footage, live music and dance, elaborate costume and audience participation, Bryony Kimmings shared her 7 day experiment which asked the question ‘is alcohol really linked to an artist’s creativity and confidence?.
The performance stemmed from this week’s investigation alone, during which she maintained an intoxicated state, and put her artistic capabilities to the test. The result is a very entertaining, and unpredictable show, which playfully conveyed a serious message about alcoholism and its damaging effects on an emotional, psychological and physical level. She succeeded in encouraging everyone to lose their inhibitions by making herself vulnerable, getting an audience member drunk; in the name of science, encouraging a select few singletons to make out, and finally got everyone onstage dancing.
Kimmings is an engaging storyteller, erratic, colourful, energetic and comical personality. She makes you want to watch her, and I’d recommend doing just that.
Dusk Rings a Bell
Posted by Martin in Assembly, Charlotte Monk-Chipman, Dusk Rings a Bell on August 10, 2011
THEATRE
***
Dusk Rings a Bell
Assembly George Square
‘Twenty-four years ago, the future was going to be different. Molly (Abi Titmuss) was going to be happy; older and smarter and married with kids. Ray(Paul Blair)was going to be a heart-surgeon’.
Written by Stephen Belber and directed by Steven Atkinson, ‘Dusk’ is staged on a Jetty surrounded by grassy reeds and the play seems to work quite well in this setting, however the pace was only a gradual momentum, which gave quite a static feel. Beginning the play was a particularly unengaging monologue by the character Molly, which did not bode well for the remainder of the performance; so in this respect, my expectations were not disappointed. I felt that this was a fault of the performance, rather than the play’s script and I would attribute it to weak casting and directing, as Titmuss was overshadowed by Blair in this duologue. Her American accent was meagre, her tone of voice was winey and monotonous, and she didn’t master the comedy in the script very well. On the flipside, Blair’s characterisation was more natural and gave a warmer vibe which was unusual and ironic given his character’s past as a criminal involved with a gay hate crime. This sinister interpretation of the character dynamics suited the plot narrative, as when the truth of Ray’s crime is unearthed, the two are drawn closer together, unified through passion.
The plays questioning of fate and impulse is at times explicitly communicated through monologues, like the memorable line ‘he’s so hyperintensly inside me’, which is in keeping with the opening line of the play ‘I’m not one of those people who has difficulty communicating’, but this speech was a clear paradox of Titmuss’ stage presence, or lack thereof. Despite the awkward actor compatibility, the dialogue was undoubtedly stronger than the lengthy monologues, and there were powerful moments, although I had the distinct impression that it was a long way off the mark for the play’s full potential.
Margaret Cho: Cho Dependant
Posted by Martin in Assembly, Margaret Cho: Cho Dependent, Sophie Alexander on August 10, 2011
COMEDY
****
Margaret Cho: Cho Dependant
Assembly George Square
With all the subtlety of a cheap bottle of red on a Friday night (just chuck it down your throat and enjoy yourself) Margaret Cho sashays onstage, confident that by the end of her show, the audience will be eating from the palm of her casually extended hand.
Cho’s humour is energetic, ballsy and raucous. Hedonism is the dish of the day and as Cho journeys through a sample of her sexual exploits; complete with finite detail (think bush and lots of it) the audience cringe but crack up simultaneously. Cho talks frankly of topics often avoided by women and I feel her ‘asshole’ should get its own credit on her flyer.
Whilst Cho has the room in stitches, she unites a queer friendly audience in her no bullshit attitude to same sex marriage and gay teen suicide. This more political and sensitive material is interspersed with her love/hate feelings on Sarah Palin; ‘I don’t like Sarah Palin’s politics at all, but, I wanna fuck her’.
Cho uses her cultural heritage to elicit a few more, cheaper laughs. Extended impersonations of her Korean mother are amusing, but a little tired. Although Cho herself states that she is not as famous here, as she is in the US, she can still rely on her credentials enough to merely sneeze onstage and bring the house down.
As with that cheap bottle of vino, Cho is to be enjoyed on a rare occasion but leaves a taste in your mouth you won’t be forgetting for some time.
At the Sans Hotel
Posted by Martin in Assembly, At the Sans Hotel, Charlotte Monk-Chipman on August 9, 2011
THEATRE
***
At the Sans Hotel
Assembly Hall
Nicola Gunn is clearly an incredibly talented performer, but the blurb for her show is misleading, and consequently the audience demographic resembled afternoon tea with Miss Marple, rather than a beginners guide to post-dramatic performance art, which is a more apt description than a ‘detective story’.
I expect the show will be accused of being pretentious and I will not pretend to ‘get it’ myself, however I can appreciate Gunn’s intuitive grasp of creating an experience for her spectators. Although she didn’t really do much in the first half; most notably when she paused for lengthy moments simply watching the audience, in turn, she was incredibly watchable and challenged the conventions of theatre, and the conventional roles of actor and spectator. She acknowledged herself as a performer and the show as a performance, treating it a little like a conference during which she handed out invisible questionnaires, and discussed the process of making theatre on a chalkboard. The persona she initially adopted reminded me of a French primary school teacher, as she was nothing short of incredibly cute, charming and witty.
No sooner had she lulled me into wishing we were friends, this was shattered by a chilling Schizophrenic shift where I was genuinely moved by her extraordinary ability to turn on an emotional sixpence. She succeeded in taking the audience on a journey along the very performance arc that she described in this reflective piece, and producing thought provoking abstract theatre.
Kafka and Son
Posted by Martin in Assembly, Kafka and Son, Tony Challis on August 8, 2011
THEATRE
****
Kafka and Son
Assembly George Square
This one-man show is derived from Franz Kafka’s letter to his father written at age 36 when he still felt overbearingly oppressed by him. The father defends himself…or maybe the writer is quite capable of imagining the defence, and speaking as the oppressor is like an extra punishment.
The description of various aspects of Kafka’s life – childhood, mealtimes, relationships with women, work – are all seen in the context of the father’s views and expectations. The dialogue flows fast and furious, and the attention is well caught. Effective as the set and performance were, a greater variation in colour and tone may have improved this further.
The set is sparse but very effective – cages into which birds or Kafka may be put – and which at time the actor confines himself to – and lots of black bird feathers – plus a white one. The name Kafka in Czech translates as Jackdaw. Kafka writes with one of these feathers.
Alan Nashman is a very accomplished Canadian actor who produces a work that is fierce and passionate as well as funny and chilling. If you have an interest in or are intrigued by one of the great writers of the 20th century, an enigmatic figure who wanted all his work destroyed at his death, whose work is dark but also often darkly comic and even satirical, then get along to this performance.
Simon Callow’s Tuesday at Tesco’s
Posted by Martin in Assembly, Simon Callow/Tuesday at Tescos, Tony Challis on August 8, 2011
THEATRE
***
Simon Callow’s Tuesday at Tesco’s
Assembly Hall
Simon Callow’s impersonation of a late-middle-aged transsexual in this one-man(plus mute pianist) show is very precisely observed. When he turns round and does a little dance he appears exactly as a larger woman of that age, in every finger, which cannot be said of many female impersonators. He takes us into the experience of Pauline, who visits her aged father every Tuesday, takes care of his washing etc and takes him shopping to Tesco’s.
We begin by hearing how Pauline feels every brick is looking at her as she walks towards her father’s place. Going back here is much more difficult than being where she now lives. The father shows little appreciation, and continually bemoans the change from Paul to Pauline. There are many embarrassing moments at Tesco’s, and we are made to feel with Pauline. It is very good that a large audience has this sympathetic experience, and it is to be hoped that Callow is successfully significantly chipping away at prejudice here.
I did find the set bemusing, but it seemed explained at the end – though I found the ending stock and unnecessary. And I still can’t work out the pianist!
Then there is Tesco’s. Tesco, Tesco, Tesco…every little helps, even. I suppose this does give the play a popular connection, and all the audience can relate to such a visit as now one is rarely more than a hundred yards from a store. It could have been Monday at Mumbo’s or Thursday at Thorline’s – but no doubt that would lack the popular identification.
Pauline and her Dad speak in voices of very different class registers, though Pauline occasionally shows what she must earlier have sounded like. I found myself wondering at what point Pauline removed herself from her class origins and what effect this had on the family relationship before the gender change. But that was not the subject here.
This is a very professional and effective presentation of a transsexual life, ultimately melodramatic, but worth seeing for many very effective moments.
Rock the Ballet
Posted by Martin in Assembly, Joshua Hepple, Rock the Ballet on August 6, 2011
DANCE
***
Rock the Ballet
Assembly
It could be said that rock and ballet are at the polar opposites of the dance spectrum though Rasta Thomas and his Bad Boys of Dance try to combine these. The audience loved it although dance critics do not. These 6 men are all extremely talented and beautiful to watch though the lack of choreography and structure doesn’t let the dancers reach their full potential.
It is also randomly Punctuated with segments from a black female to demonstrate a different style of movement. Digitally projected effects into the background brought colour to the performance even If at most points did not relate to the act. Acts included many infamous songs from singers such as ‘Queen’ and ‘Micheal Jackson’ which was received with much applaud and screams.
A fun hour of dance for all the family to enjoy, although maybe hot for anyone who wants to see a breathtaking dance show with much expertise in dance
Puppetry of the Penis: 3D
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Assembly, Puppetry of the Penis 3D on August 6, 2011
THEATRE* * * *
Puppetry of the Penis: 3D
Assembly George Square
There are few words to describe the bizarre yet evidently talented performance presented in ‘Puppetry of the Penis’ and 3D really does add a whole new dimension to this show. I feel that on inventiveness, skill and braveness alone this show deserves high praise – I have never seen anything quite like this before (and probably never will again!) It was also evident that people love a bit of penis – this was a sell-out show and, to quote the woman who was queuing behind me, ‘everybody loves a good banana’.
I never knew that the male genitalia could be made to represent a sombrero, or a burger or Ayers Rock – the possibilities seemed endless in this genital origami show (like normal origami but without the paper-cuts!) They even give instructions on how male audience members can perform some of their tricks at home – I definitely saw myself in a new light in the shower this morning! As a man, it was also reassuring to be told by the two performers that none of the tricks were painful, although some of them looked like they would cause at least minor discomfort! The show seemed pretty slick and rehearsed (it would have to be!) although the duo did lose their way in the running at one point.
The advertising has been widespread, and the audiences are queuing in their hundreds, so it is undoubted that ‘Puppetry of the Penis: 3D’ will remain highly-popular at Fringe 2011. Although, one piece of advice for those going to see this show – sit in the middle of the auditorium for the full 3D effect, but stick to the back and don’t put your hand up…there’s a couple of audience participation sections! A completely bizarre, not-at-all arousing but downright impressive show not to be missed (unless you are under 18).
