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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Christie & Doyle's Axis of Evil
Verdict: Relationship domination comedy
Edinburgh 05 - Underbelly - 17:50 (0:55)
Axis of Evil is a one-hour skit show from comedy duo Bridget Christie and Andrew Doyle.
It promises to reveal how evil surreptitiously rears its head in everyday life. But not a particularly large nor scary head.
One running gag is an expectant couple, who take turns becoming hysterical at each other over inappropriate things.
The 'many manifestations of evil' mostly have to do with frustrations of the human desire to connect, especially romantically.
Or rather, looked at more closely, evil is seen in people’s relentless struggle to dominate one another, with romance and marriage being a main arena.
In between sketches, the presenters give fragments of exposition on what aspects of evil are to be illustrated.
In these interludes, they often break character, usually for Bridget Christie to treat Andrew Doyle harshly over departing from the script.
A climax of sorts occurs when Doyle attempts to throw off the yoke of his domination by Christie.
Social life is presented as a series of verbal jousting matches. Christie wins 9 out of 10 of these.
Some may wonder if her domination of her comic partner extends off-stage as well.
There are nods at comic cliché. For example, the duo’s homage to tradition is to end with an upbeat song-and-dance routine.
And Bridget Christie lays out a roadmap for how she'll develop her rabid Irish nun character over the next 20 years.
Cast Credits: (alpha order): Bridget Christie. Andrew Doyle.
Company Credits: Created and performed by Bridget Christie & Andrew Doyle. Technical Operator (tonight) - Ross McGivern; (Edinburgh) - Venue Staff.
END
(c) Brad Hall 2005
reviewed Sunday 31 July 05 / Canal Café Theatre
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
