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The
Edinburgh Fringe
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Fringe 2003 Reviews (5)Vegemite Tales Vegemite Tales could just be one of those cult comedies that, like Stones in His Pockets or Puppetry of the Penis, uses Edinburgh as a stepping stone to major commercial success. It is extremely funny and has already enjoyed a run of almost six months at the Old Red Lion in Islington. The premise is simple, six Aussies (well, one is a very unlikely Italian) share a house in London. The play follows the trials and tribulations of their lives. The main subjects of interest to these pleasure-seeking temporary immigrants are jobs; which lead to money; which leads to booze; which leads to love (or sex depending upon their outlook). Where it really scores is in addressing some serious issues as well as the sex and booze and rock and roll lifestyle. Writer Melanie Tait, who directs too, recognises that the Europe trip is a longish term escape from responsibility. This is not always possible though. There is always the risk of homesickness, broken relationships and pregnancy, with the inevitable choice between a baby and abortion. The characters are generally believable and the show features several excellent performances. Priscilla Jackman is the gawky 21 year old virgin Maddie, who doesn't quite live in the house. She has the kind of chat up lines that men dream of. Maxine Morrison plays the mother hen, Gemma who, cannot handle her own life, while Andrew Robb holds things together as Eddie, the elder statesman. While the script could do with some tightening up and some of the jokes rely a little too much on stereotyping, Vegemite Tales is undoubtedly a hit in the making. Hard Sell This black comedy has a familiar plot. A rich man offers to buy his business partner's wife. Unlike Indecent Proposal though, no Demi Moore or Robert Redford . The price is a bargain, no more than that paid for the average third division footballer. Soon afterwards, the vendor is found floating in his swimming pool. The play covers the attempts of the police to discover the murderer. Patrick Morris plays Detective Sergeant Filth, a man who lives up to his name, while Martin Austin is the slightly more refined DC Pig. The third member of the cast is half a mannequin, playing the victim's fur-clad widow, Mrs Devoy. Unsurprisingly, she maintains her right to silence throughout. The interrogation can be funny but the play then takes a different, excessive turn as the coppers decide to recreate the crime. This allows the two actors to indulge themselves playing a variety of parts. This can be funny but all too often looks more like a stand-up routine than a play and does nothing for Craig Baxter's plot. There is some promise here, but someone really needed to decide exactly what Hard Sell was trying to do and redirect it. The Pugilist Specialist The Riot Group are riding high in Edinburgh. Their great retake on Lear, Victory at the Dirt Palace, got five stars from BTG last year and won a Fringe First. Their new show, The Pugilist Specialist, also by Adriano Shaplin, was one of only four to get a Fringe First in Week 1 this year. Shaplin has written a satire on the War on Terror and media reporting of it. The four characters are US marines on a secret mission to assassinate an unnamed leader, known by the code name of the bearded lady. It can only be a matter of time before Osama bin Laden sues. The language is always poetic and often densely allegorical. The characters are well-rounded and the actors fully drilled with perfect timing. The explosives expert is a woman who feels downtrodden and has feminist tendencies. Stephanie Viola plays a similar part to her Kate in Victory and does so well, combining vulnerability with strength. The Colonel (Paul Schnabel) is older and defensive about that; and confuses the need for love with state-supported murder. These two are supported by a sensitive spin doctor/information man (Drew Friedman) and the playwright, taking the part of the gung-ho assassin, Lieutenant Freud. This is a dense, entertaining piece that would reward a second viewing. Like Dr Strangelove, in a short time it says a lot about its ostensible subject matter. It also portrays some interestingly complex people in stressed situations. The Riot Group is a company to follow, both witty and imaginative with a fresh outlook on the USA in general and its manipulative media in particular. |
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