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Fringe 2008 Reviews (17)
Architecting (Part One)
By The TEAM
The TEAM & National Theatre of Scotland Workshop
Traverse 2
***
Young New Yorkers The TEAM have become darlings of the Fringe since
their double debut at C four or five years ago. At times, some may wonder
why, as their self-indulgent offerings have often avoided any obvious
meaning or narrative flow.
They now have the support of the Scottish theatrical élite,
having collaborated with the National Theatre of Scotland and Traverse.
Director Rachel Chavkin has worked with Davey Anderson, who wrote the
music for Black Watch, in the company's most accessible play
to date.
While there are several strands, some of which retain the earnest and
angst-ridden unintelligibility of the past, the main thread is
a witty deconstruction of everybody's favourite tale, Margaret Mitchell's
Gone With The Wind.
The style, while definitively their own, is a kind of transatlantic
cousin of the work of another Mitchell, Katie who tries to discover
the essence of novels from oblique viewpoints.
In terms of familiarity, it might actually be helpful that they have
chosen an iconic book and movie that this year has already been lovingly
reworked by Sir Trevor Nunn in an expensive, if short-lived, musical,
and Ron Hutchinson's Moonlight and Magnolias.
That story is combined with one about an architect, Carrie Campbell,
played by Libby King, and a final wild rant featuring Franklin Delmore
McKinnley (Jake Margolin) that at the end of a hot two hours without
an interval led to the symbolic deconstruction of the set, though quite
why is unclear.
The TEAM have created a largely enjoyable happening that for the most
part makes sense as they compare the destruction of Scarlett O'Hara's
Tara with that of New Orleans and then consider the way in which architects
and others impose their visions on the world as reconstruction takes
place.
The effort put in by a cast led by Jessica Almasy as Margaret (Peggy)
Mitchell and Kristen Sieh in the role of her most famous creation cannot
be faulted and one awaits Part 2 and any further sequels with a mixture
of trepidation and fascination.
Philip Fisher
A Servant of Two Masters
By Carlo Goldoni, adapted by Lee Hall from a literal translation by
Gwenda Pandolfi
Edward's Theatre Company
Quaker Meeting House
***(*)
Edward's Theatre Company's production of this Goldoni classic actually
begins in the foyer of the Quaker Meeting House, as Truffaldino, the
servant of the title, welcomes the audience and ushers it upstairs to
the theatre. The rest of the actors mull about onstage as he tries to
organise them and stop them from drinking, lazing about or kissing when
they have a show to put on.
Carole Ashcroft's production seems to be trying to reintroduce some
of the chaos of Italian improvised Commedia del'Arte into this opening,
which Goldoni was trying to turn into something respectable by moulding
it into a 'proper' play.
Truffaldino interrupts the marriage promises of Clarice and Silvio
when he brings greetings from his master Federigo who was previously
promised to Clarice but who was thought to have been killed in a duel,
but in one of those theatrical comic conventions where someone who is
obviously, to the audience, a girl in men's clothes fools everyone in
the play, Federigo's sister Beatrice dresses as her brother in order
to collect his dowry from Clarice's father Pantaloon. Truffaldino, meanwhile
runs into Florindo and sees financial advantages in being a servant
to two masters, not to mention the chance to get two dinners. However
by an amazing coincidence, Florinda happens to be Beatrice's lover who
ran away after killing Federigo in a duel.
This tortuous plot is surprisingly easy to follow in performance in
Lee Hall's clear and funny adaptation, despite the expected multiple
misunderstandings, dashing between rooms, complex lies that catch up
with their teller and even a near double-suicide. It isn't really spoiling
anything to reveal that it all ends happily.
This youth theatre production keeps a good pace going and has some
extremely good performances from certain members of its young cast.
There are a few under-played parts and actors with muttered speech,
but they are more than made up for by the majority of the company. Mike
Tyas in particular stands out as a superb and very energetic Truffaldino
with good comic delivery. There is also another very good comic performance
from Aimee Robertson as Smeraldina, Clarice's maid and the subject of
Truffaldino's affections, who seems to be quite happy to marry anyone.
Wayne Rogers gives a nicely-measured performance as the melancholy lover
Florindo, and Frankie Tubb gives a strong performance as Beatrice /
Federigo.
This pacey, entertaining comedy has a few weaknesses, but there are
also some performances that this young cast should be proud of.
David Chadderton
Zanna, Don't!
By Tim Acito and Alexander Dinelaris
The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Musical Theatre @ George Square
****(*)
The Postgraduate Musical Theatre students from The Royal Scottish Academy
of Music and Drama return this year with the off Broadway hit Zanna,
Don't! by Tim Acito and Alexander Dinelaris.
At Heartsville High they have their very own Cilla Black in the guise
of Zanna! Zanna wants everyone to find love and reckons 'nothing done
out of love can harm us'. In Zanna's world everyone has same sex: couples
and heterosexuality is not the norm, where the Jock appears in the school
musical and the head of the chess team is seen as a sex symbol. It's
very camp, very loud and very over the top!
Directors Andrew Panton and Sally Rapier bring you a tight and well
paced production that showcases each of the students as actors and singers
as well as an hour and a half of fun and laughter.
Bobby Callahan gives a superb performance in the title role bringing
the audience right into his world and showing some real promise as a
future musical theatre star.
This is very much an ensemble piece but special mention must go to
Craig Smith, Olivia Cho and Anna Clayton. Smith and Clayton gave a fine
performance that captured the audience's hearts on their quest for true
love's kiss whilst Cho has some great one liners and a real talent for
comedy timing.
However, the star of the show for me was Craig Deuchar who plays the
overly happy radio presenter and friend to Zanna. Deuchar stands out
from the whole piece and gives a very charming performing from start
to finish and definitely a face to look for in the future.
The Musical Theatre students have again brought a high class production
to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and will not let you down if you decide
to see what Zanna has in store for you!
John Naples-Campbell
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