|
Fringe 2009 Reviews (53)
Alistair McGowan and Charlotte
Page: Cocktails with Coward
Off The Kerb Productions
Assembly @ George Street
****
In suave, sophisticated style Alistair McGowan and Charlotte Page perform
poems and songs in succession from Noël Coward. This is gentle,
feel-good entertainment, and really presents a 'Keep Calm and Carry
On' spirit, appealing to the credit crunched audience. Complimented
by Charlotte Page's impressive voice, McGowan hits the perfect tone
for Coward's wicked observations.
Hearing comments of appreciation from the spectators as they left,
it was clear the McGowan and Page's audience could easily have stayed
for more.
Sacha Voit
Rebus McTaggart
Written and performed by Richard Thomson
Gilded Balloon
****
With his audience queueing round block, the Ecclefechan 'top cop' Rebus
McTaggart (aka Richard Thomson) has established a cult following. And
he deserves it. The swaggering officer presents his 'educative' talk
to a crowd of potential new recruits, telling them what the hard face
of crime looks like in Dumfriesshire's remote village. With terrorism,
drugs and Harry Potter plaguing his door, the fearless and feckless
Rebus fights back with a mixture of bravado and ignorance.
The multi-talented Thomson never misses a trick or a costume change
and arrives on stage in every guise from Sniffer Dog to female Police
Artist-Impressionist. Taking advantage of audience interaction Thomson
creates a charged atmosphere with unstoppable presence. He's certainly
one to watch for the future.
Sacha Voit
First Lady Suite
By Michael John LaChiusa
One Academy Productions
Musical Theatre @ George Square
***
As the title may suggest, this musical is about the first ladies of
the United States including Jackie Kennedy, Eveyln Lincoln and Eleanor
Roosevelt. The audience are presented with a slice of each of the women's
life from their own perspective and a small insight into the power and
problems of being a woman in mainly a man's world.
There are some fine voices on display in this production and the different
women are characterised well, although it does help to have a good grasp
of American history as the women are presented in reverse chronological
order and there is much multi-rolling to represent friends and aides.
This is an interesting score that creates moments of both comedy and
tension and yet the pace is at times rather slow even with the minimal
scene changes.
Amy Yorston
Next
page - - - Index
|
