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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Anorak Of Fire
Verdict: Gus hits the spot
Gus Gascoigne is a train spotter through and through - with his white sneakers, thick-rimmed spectacles and beloved anorak decked out with badges. Flask and sandwiches to hand, Gus is ready to dance to the distant beat of diesel. He's proud to wear his anorak - the anorak of fire as well he should be, for it's been handed down by one of the greatest spotters who ever lived.
Mark Rind plays Gus. With his slicked-back ginger hair and quirky movements he looks every bit the geek - but a character with a certain loveable charm. With several stories - in particular a disastrous but hilarious sexual encounter - he has us with him by the tracks, waiting for a midnight 125. The set is noteworthy: what looks like a few bits of metal and plastic resembling a run-down old platform, transforms itself to neighbours' trees and secret hiding places in the blink of an eye.
This is a cleverly written and genuinely funny piece, but it gives more. It hints that people are alike even train spotters - and that we should accept each other as we are. As Gus says, a spotter should be ready to mix with all strata of society.
Cast Credits: Mark Rind - Gus Gascoine.
Company Credits: Director - Christopher Neil. Designer - Fiammetta Horvat. Lighting Designer - Max Lewendel. Sound Designer - Ben Walker. Stage Manager - Sefton Booth. Press Officer - Paul Sullivan. Photographer - Duncan Soar. Writer - Stephen Dinsdale. Presented by - Small Fish Theatre. Thanks to Horsley Marine Services, Darlington Transport Centre, Steven Harris Opticians (Penge), Sally Whitehill at Curtis Brown Ltd, Matthew Darby, Orlando Mostyn-Owen, Ruth Finn, Eric Bluechild, Isobel Suttie, Hannah Edwards.
Venue Credits: Etcetera Theatre: Artistic Director - David Bidmead. Box Office Staff - Ayanna Witter-Johnson (tonight), Malcolm Keen . The Etcetera Theatre has been supported by the Foundation For Sport & The Arts, and by Camden Arts & Leisure.
END
Richard Costello
reviewed Friday 23 January 04 / Etc Theatre
(c) Richard Costello 2004
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
