|
Fringe 2007 Reviews (51)
The Space in Between
By Alex Marx
Order First
The Jazz Bar
***
The Space in Between takes place in quiet relaxed atmosphere
of The Jazz Bar, and centres upon three twenty-somethings who work there;
following them across an unspecified amount of time, immediately before
and after the working hours. During which time we learn the problems,
thoughts , dreams and aspirations of the two out of work actors and
their aspiring novelist bar-manager. All of which is interspersed with
short but pleasant Jazz accompaniment from Sam Cable.
The piece is, for the most part, a naturalistic affair, with the leads
discussing the minutiae of their lives and philosophising over the meanings
of existence in a simple yet interesting way. The overall effect is
one which is both endearing and familiar to anyone who has ever worked
a bar job while harbouring plans for some other endeavour. Slightly
less well handled were the budding seeds of romance between Angela,
the new girl and the guys. The concept felt forced, and the final resolution
made it all the more apparent that Angela was little more than a plot
device, rather than an integral piece of the puzzle. In fact the final
moments of the play, although self-admittedly pat, were slightly too
much of a turn and felt awkward, as characters began to deviate from
roles and the walls of stage-realism began to intentionally crumble.
However I cannot imagine how it could have ended otherwise without having
simple drifted away to an unsatisfying ending. In that sense I applaud
Alex Marx for his writing as the decision to opt for the jaw-droppingly
bizarre close is a brave one.
The overall experience is one of wonder and bafflement. The piece is
well written, often cynically ingenious, and the events although mundane
are compelling, but the rapid change of plot takes you by surprise,
and how this will be received is very much an individual choice.
Graeme Strachan
Rhod Gilbert - Who's Eaten
Gilbert's Grape?
Pleasance
***
For his 2007 set, Welsh stand-up Rhod Gilbert has chosen the framework
of his relationship with the "cult" movie Who's Eaten Gilbert's
Grape?. He immediately acknowledges his mistake as yet again, he
discovers that only around 10% of his audience have seen the Johnny
Depp/Leonardo DiCaprio star vehicle.
His brief summary confirms the conclusion that despite the happy ending,
its subject is misery and Gilbert identifies with that since his own
shows celebrate that facet of everyone's lives.
In fact, though his hour vaguely follows and refers to the movie, it
is far more about experiences in Gilbert's own life, whether real or
fictional may be a matter for debate.
On an appallingly wet Tuesday night, Gilbert had a full house, drawn
by a motormouth style that has built up a big reputation. Without threatening,
this comic with a boxer's face likes to interact with his audience,
feeding off them far more than his script, or so it appears. Such is
his talent that he can get away with this.
His Welsh heritage has always been a favourite topic and this time,
after some discussion about his invented home of Llanbobl, he then branched
off into an extremely funny rant about the Welsh language and the use
to which it is put.
He then tells of how WEGG changed his life and introduced him
to the current girlfriend, er girlfriend, er life partner, Bridget.
In what sounds like a middle-aged male dream scenario, this beauty delivered
room service to his grotty Kentish hotel room and then stayed to watch
the end of the movie. They are now together with a young baby - or not,
if he has invented it all.
Rhod Gilbert's laugh count is always high and this was no exception.
He is one of the best stand-ups on the circuit and with a mix of relaxed
self-confidence and a dark view of life will always amuse.
Philip Fisher
A Walk in the Park
By Dave Anderson
Oran MorE! at Assembly
Assembly Rooms
***
This short play, like the same creative team's Tir Nan Og, was
first seen as part of a lunchtime season A Play, A Pie and a Pint in
Glasgow.
Writer Dave Anderson plays a lonely old man whose closest friend is
the bottle. He feels sorry for himself but through 45 minutes, is cheered
by A Walk in the Park.
As he strolls through coat rack trees, like some latter-day (cursing)
Johnny Morris, he enjoys his own Animal Magic. The elderly dreamer meets
a stream of animals and gives them voices.
A supporting team of Pauline Knowles, Jennifer Rhodes and Alan Tall
play the friends that he makes, squirrels, foxes, samples of bird-life
and, as close to humanity as it gets, a little girl.
Philip Fisher
Next
page - - - Index
|
