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This Is Soap
Verdict: New fun daily
Edinburgh 03 - C Central
Welcome to the Thane of Glamis pub. Fran (Eva Crompton)'s managing the bar. Majority shareholder David (Gareth Kane) has killed many, and buried them in the cellar. The pub needs rebuilding if he's to avoid death threats from co-shareholder sinister Russian NoManIHaveABitch (Emma Gillard). The only solution's to make a porn film.
Will (Dominic Price) comes out of prison still tied to his cellmate Fou-Fou (John Mawer), while two randy cats (Eva Crompton, Emma Gillard) shag in front of the audience. Tony Blair's Bastard Love Child (Gareth Kane) speaks (very like his father). Will has a proposal to make to Shirley (Emma Gillard) - 'Can I stick my head in your bucket and lick your cream out with my tongue?' She looks agreeable.
David's in the back of a cab sensitively phoning old girlfriends for the sleaze movie: 'Hello - are you still a slag?' A critic in the audience turns out to be samurai Osama-Wan Kenobi (Aaron Barschak), who tries to save the day. Maria (Eva Crompton) the taxi driver's ready for porn stardom. Shooting's stymied by one of the actors: 'What's my motivation?'. Fou-Fou's doubtful he's up to it, and looks into his trousers, closing on the line: 'These elderberries will never make it to China'.
This is a show written by the audience and it's new every day. At the start,
directors Chris Sudworth or Stephen Keyworth 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 - today it's the elderberries. At the end they give a fast improvised play of the new ideas, which can be seen in polished format tomorrow.
Eva Crompton delights as Fran, bar manager with string vest and drooping bra-strap; she's alarmingly wanton as cab-driver Maria and a nameless cat on top, gifted in each of her roles.
Emma Gillard's gorgeous face contorts dangerously under Elton John glasses as NoManIHaveABitch; she's a winsomely gormless Shirley and naughty cat too, an actress with a superb and enlightened range.
Gareth Kane's a masterful voice of Tony Blair and gives a green puppet the Prime Minister's hand gestures; his David shows a fine range of versatile acting and a sensitive understanding of the comic essence of his characters.
Dominic Price gives a fine mad Will, challenged upstairs and relentlessly sodomised, an actor able to convey his characters from the inside. It's an engaging and talented delivery well-integrated with the comedy of the show.
John Mawer abandons stand-up for the show and joins the cast to guest as Fou-Fou - a funny portrayal. Aaron Barschak's on stage for the one show also, followed by a TV camera making a documentary about him; his Samurai's an entertaining character.
Cast Credits (alpha order): Eva Crompton (Kimberly Clark (Fran), Maria). Emma Gillard (Denise Stone, Shirley Crabtree). Gareth Kane (David the local, Chris Parker). Dominic Price (Will, DJ BG).
Guest Actors this performance: John Mawer. Aaron Barschak (appearing in Osama Likes It Hot, Underbelly).
Company Credits: Devised and Directed - Chris Sudworth, Stephen (Steve) Keyworth (director of Dog Well Done at the same venue). Lighting Designer - Peter Harrison. Composer - Ian Sudworth. Company Stage Manager & Administrator - Jemma Carpenter. Asst Stage Managers - Belinda Walton, Heather Yeadon. Artistic Director - Hartley TA Kemp. Associate Producer - Zena Barrie.
END
John Park
reviewed Monday 11 August 03 / Edinburgh / C Central
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
www.fringereport.com
