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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
This is Soap
Verdict: Great first show of the day
Edinburgh - C-Venues - August 02
Edinburgh without bars? Impossible, and here are two of the most idiosyncratic,
with rival landladies slugging it out for ownership, and sleeping with the help.
The Thane of Glamis Arms is under joint ownership - 66.66% at least - by
rival sisters Sophia and Marilyn MacHine. But Morag Blythe, the Tart from rival
The Tartan Tavern has forged documents giving her the remaining 33.33 (recurring)
percent. She'll stop at nothing - including impersonating movie producer
Howard Marks to get wannabe starlet Marilyn to sign the paperwork - to get the rest.
Cleaning lady Vera's fired by jealousy of backpacking Queenslander Darlene for
sleeping with heartthrob Dave 54 times. Though Vera hasn't herself - she thinks
Dave's gardening uphill, and may be a homeopath.
Darlene's position (54 of them) is under fire from joint
landlady Sophia MacHine for promiscuity, with customers 'forming a queue round
the block', and giving a new meaning to 'open all hours'.
This is a show written by the audience and it's new every day. At the start,
director Chris Sudworth asks for plot ideas for tomorrow and a closing line for
today. The actors perform today's soap, but must close on the new punchline.
At the end they give a fast improvised play of the new ideas, which can be seen
in polished format tomorrow.
There's glorious acting from a remarkable and breathtakingly funny ensemble cast
(see below), and excellent writing from, well, you. Directing is tight and
inspired, and there's superb original music pastiching every known tv soap. That's
tv as in TV, because Morag may not be the woman she seems...
Guest actors this performance: Mandy Gordon and Lynsey Tash, appearing in
Intimacy at The Assembly Rooms.
Guest actors next day: Samantha Sanns and Iain Davie, appearing in
NewsRevue at C Venues.
Actors (alpha order): The Performer - Phil Andrews; David the local - Gareth
Kane; Marilyn MacHine, Landlady - Theresa Lawrence; Sophia MacHine, Landlady
- Lisa Schulberg; Darlene - Australian with Backpack - Victoria Stadler;
Morag Blythe, The Tart from The Tartan Tavern - Fiona Staniland.
Director - Chris Sudworth; Collaborator - Steve Keyworth; Composer of music -
Mathew Lyons; Sound Designer - Leanne Stewart; Lighting Designer -
Jasmin Kientzel.
Company Stage Manager - Karen Richardson; ASM - Jasmin Kientzel; ASM - Jemma
Carpenter; Producer - Hartley TA Kemp; Associate Producer - Suzanna Rosenthal;
Administration - Chris Sudworth.
Lights and sound technical managers - C Venues staff.
END
John Park
reviewed Friday 16 August 02 / C Venues
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
