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drinks Monday 2 June 08
DUBLIN ... Colman Higgins describes the scope and history of Dublin Gay Theatre Festival ... and reviews two of its shows ... Down Dangerous Passes Road ... Confessions of A Mormon Boy /// LONDON ... film on now ... La Question Humaine / Heartbeat Detector /// BRIGHTON ... It's on till 26 May and here's at least 20 Things you might want to know about Brighton Fringe /// PEOPLE ... Who was there at Fringe Report's First Monday 5 May - photographs & article /// CULTURE ... One Culture ... film screening 30 May booking now ... details
The Universal Language of the Animals
Verdict: Fairly interesting
The Universal Language of the Animals is drama inflected with comedy, running at just under an hour. There's a cast of 7 (2F, 5M).
Narrator Blaized Carmey (Dan Mersh) introduces three states of existence: now, life in 3012, and an afterlife. He proposes the creation of a language that eg humans, birds and fishes can all understand - to reduce the misunderstandings between species that the three scenarios illustrate.
In the first state, Child 1 (Nick Pettigrew) recalls how his parents were eaten by a snake (Paul Nelson). Child 2 (Hazel Humphreys) was brought up by ducks. Child 3 - (James D'Chapeau) is vegan and serenely indifferent. A pigeon
(Paul Nelson) rapes another pigeon (Cecilia Smart) and infects her with Newcastle Disease. A hawk (Cecilia Smart) prepares to attack, leading to violence among children and birds.
In the second state, in 3012, Robot Child 1 (Alex Macqueen) and Robot Child 2 (Hazel Humphreys), with promptings from Robot Child 3 (Nick Pettigrew), try to work out what humans were like; and discuss non-communication.
In the third state, a type of after-life, Muthpet 1 (James D'Chapeau), Muthpet 2 (Alex Macqueen), and Muthpet 3 (The King) (Nick Pettigrew), pass judgment on the others - and whether to send them to Schala (good), or Draaaaag (bad). Those judged include the eggs of the previous pigeon - Egg 1 (Cecilia Smart), and Egg 2 - (Hazel Humphreys).
It's a potentially interesting play. There are elements of Jean-Paul Satre's version of existentialism, and a trace of Nietzsche. It's told in an arch Edward Lear / Walter de la Mare nonsense style, stitched together with pseudo-philosophy.
It is difficult to review the play at the moment, because tonight's version seems an unrehearsed reading, with scripts open, and a number of forgotten lines. But it feels fairly interesting. With a ruthless - very extremely ruthless - edit, and some rigorous work on the script to make the dialogue more inviting, it could be a cult hit.
Tonight's audience includes legendary performer Peter Buckley-Hill, comedy experts Zena Barrie & Michelle Flower (FRA 04 - Best Comedy Company), sublime press officer Penny Sims.
Cast Credits: Hazel Humphreys - Child 2, Robot Child 2, Egg 2. Alex Macqueen - Robot Child 1, Muthpet 2. Dan Mersh as Blaized Carmey - Narrator. Paul Nelson - Snake, Bird 2. Nick Pettigrew - Child 1, Robot Child 3, Muthpet 3 (The King). Cecilia Smart - Bird 1, Egg 1. Jim Woroniecki as James D'Chapeau - Child 3, Muthpet 1.
Company Credits: Written and directed by Blaized Carmey. Technical Operator - Phil Bentley. Thanks: (programme spellings): Nick P, Humph, Cecilia, James D'Chapeau, Paulie, Ruman, Michelle, Zelda, Pillip, Martyn, Rogger, Chortle, Jerry, Andre, Mr Nichol, Marek, Spencer, Ween, Dominic Frisby. Venue Credits: Etcetera Theatre: Artistic Directors - Zena Barrie, Michelle Flower.
END
John Park
reviewed Monday 22 November 04 / Etcetera Theatre
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
