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Fringe 2008 Reviews (46)
Company
By Stephen Sondheim
EUSOG
Augustine's
****
Robert's friends are gathering for his 35th birthday. They are all
married. Some are on their second or third attempt. Married people always
want to know why one is not married. Some think marriage is a sign of
maturity; settling down. Others just want to share in the misery. And
so it is with Robert. Robert needs convincing and he is on an exploration
of the topic.
Company was an early success of Stephen Sondheim. Although long
a staple of colleges and regional musical theatre companies, a recent
Broadway production brought many new accolades and fans. In other words,
it is part of the staple of American theatre.
This production, not matching the polish or budget of the recent Tony
production, has more heart and accessibility.
John McQuade has made the most out of limited space. The full cast
overloads the stage. But McQuade uses all of the stage, creating levels
and defined playing areas, making it visually interesting.
Ali Watt (not Larry Kirk from the original or Raul Esparza from 2006)
is a solid though slow start that warms as Robert opens up to his maturing
self-evaluation. Nina Logue makes Joanne her own; not an easy task with
the ghosts of Joannes past (Elaine Stritch). Rachel Tiimney and Maredith
Close are uniquely and poignently funny. Miriam Early's April is sweet
and quirkey. Joe Pike's Larry breaks your heart. Jenny Dickens comes
alive and crackles when Amy's "not getting married". The entire
cast should be singled out. Though not flawless, it is a good, solid
production.
And the band - the BAND! Well...this show would not be the success
it is without this BAND. They can hold their own with most of the musical
theatre productions, even Broadway. (I'm a sucker for a good band.)
This is an intellegent and engaging production. If you like musicals
and you like Sondheim you should see this production.
Catherine Lamm
Moliere's 'Tartuffe'
Greene Shoots Theatre
C
***
In an energetic and physical farce, 28 young performers from Berkhamsted
Collegiate School reinvent Moliere's 'Tartuffe'. Orgon becomes a self-obsessed
politician with an eye on a best-selling autobiography. For this he
needs a holy man to give him a glint of respectability and absolve his
political sins of the past.
Performed in verse, this production includes some impressive physical
theatre when all the cast are on stage. Throughout the show the paparazzi
cameras keep snapping and the sniff of a scandal keeps the papers selling.
An engaging performance from some young, playful actors.
Cecily Boys
Meli Melo II
Chicos Mambo
Universal Arts Theatre
*****
What do Swan Lake, Come Dancing, Fred and Ginger, the
Little Mermaid, Torvill and Dean, Flamenco and Olympic gymnastics have
in common? Chicos Mambo will do them all for you in just one hour -
and more! The dancing is divine, the frocks are fabulous, and the four
hairy Frenchmen are big and butch and cheeky and camp all at the same
time. Whether pirouetting on points or flouncing their skirts, Chicos
Mambo do it with panache.
My favourite was the Come Dancing skit. The skin-tight, bright-red,
sequined dress set off the Latin passion of the couple a treat and it
can't be by accident that the number on the male dancer's back was 69.
You can relish every moment of the hilarious parody. It's a very good
show to start off a night on the town or the finish a tiring touristy
day with flourish. Highly recommended!
Jackie Fletcher
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