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NEWSREVUE
(for review of current run see main page)
Run: 30 May to 7 July 02
Verdict: Firecracker
Canal Café Theatre, London
Heather Mills won universal admiration for
the courage she displayed when her leg was
amputated. Here was a young and beautiful woman whose career
as a model, and life itself, seemed devastated. But through her
own strength, and finally the love of a good man, her story
became a fairy tale.
Paul McCartney suffered the loss through cancer of a woman
he adored. When Linda McCartney died, his superb contribution to
young actors, the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, was about
to produce its first graduates. Although devasted by grief, he
continued the active encouragement he and his wife had
given from the outset, visiting the college privately
and without press fanfare, to support and congratulate the students.
Is it therefore funny for Newsrevue to ridicule the wedding of these
two obviously good people, and Heather McCartney's wooden leg?
Yes it is. In fact it's utterly hilarious.
Alun Maxwell plays a blinding McCartney ('dabbing some dye on his hair
where it's turning quite grey: makes him look gay'), and glad-handing
celebs ('he can buy a guest list that's better than the Queen's').
Beth Vyse is a superb Heather, screwing her leg on for the big
day ('She likes to have her leg pulled, but don't pull the
other one'). Andrea Sadler does daughter Stella as a spoilt brat
stitching unwearable clothes. Philip Simon does all the famous
wedding guests from Bono to Geldorf. The brilliant writing's by Mike and Tanya Tier.
It's hysterically funny, suggesting that satire's not exactly
about real people, more about their cariacature. But there are
no theories of comedy, it's just whether people laugh.
And they certainly do.
This consistently excellent run of Newsrevue is directed
with grace by Alex Dower. Dower edits the skills of a blissful
cast to underscore strong laugh-lines from some remarkable writing.
He brings a sure comedic touch to the director's role, making
each sketch a brightly polished gem.
Andrea Sadler delights as the Queen, as assassin of Diana, Dodi,
Margaret and Mum ('Killer Queen'), as rival to
Charles ('Anything you can do I can do better') and as a poisonous
wee goblin re-bra-ing Charlie Dimmock ('Revenge of the gnomes').
Poor Kylie Minogue might best avoid Saddler's fabulous
impersonation, complete with plastic buttocks ('I'm top totty,
with my botty').
Alun Maxwell's a fabulous motor-mouthed Stephen Byers ('It's all for
the best'), a dirty-talking Sven-Goran Eriksson mixing footy talk
with fantasies of shagging Ulrika ('I dribble, then I shoot') and
author and actor of the Conservative Party's sure-fire vote-winning
speech ('We're the most hated nation in Europe, and we love it.')
Beth Vyse defines a couple of Bushes and a charming old lady.
Her Laura Bush, in the disgusting and superb ensemble Leaders'
Wives sketch, has her finger on the button, and it's not the
nuclear one. Her self-written Kate Bush sketch (with George W
mutely in foreground) had the audience crying with laughter. And
she's a wholly convincing pensioner, cheated out of a fast-track
hip operation by Phil Simon's saturnine Jeremy Beadle.
It's hard to imagine Tony Blair masturbating, but Philip Simon
pulls it off in his fine portrayal of the lapdog of the
free world at his oiliest ('The Wank against Terrorism'). Here's a
superb tap-dancing Tony ('It's all for the best'), and saviour of
failing schools ('Teachers for the class'). In an ironic bit
of double-casting, Simon's also Saddam Hussein ('Leader of Iraq').
Musical director (alternating with Nic le Breuilly) Pete Smith's
imaginative scoring and technically and creatively excellent
piano twinkles behind the voices of this inspired and
well-integrated cast. Great lights and sound from
technical director Jake Wiltshire. Producer - Emma Taylor.
NewsRevue is written by a team of about 30 writers. Those sampled
in this run include: Matt Bates, Martin Baum, Stephen Bessant,
Marc Blakewill, Chris Bryant, Noel Christopher, John Cowan,
Alex Dower, Barry Dunstall, Terry Franks-Newman,
Jeff Halls, Keith Henderson, John Hodiak, Rupert Keenlyside,
Matt Malone, Alun Maxwell, Simon Ounsworth,
Andrea Sadler, Colin Stutt, Mike Tier, Tanya Tier,
Beth Vyse, Alex Woodhall, Ron Winkworth and others.
END
Fringe Report at July 2002
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
