This is a double bill, two short plays (about 45 minutes each) themed around love and marriage. The programme comes from Yellow Earth Theatre Company, whose goal is to look at universal themes through Eastern eyes.

What the two plays have in common is some excellent performances and the fact that their writers are from the Far East – Getting Married by Yi Kang-baek (Korea); Dogs by Elangovan (Singapore). Beyond that, it's hard to imagine two more different pieces. The universals seem to matter here more than where in the world they are set - both are impressive and accessible.

Dogs is drama of a totally different brand, a cry of anguish about the pressures of modern living (whether in Singapore or anywhere). The young and childless husband and wife are at once brought together and forced apart by the pressure that divorces sex from love, the pressure to have money, to achieve, to stand out, to be someone, to feel important. It is pacy to the point of recklessness, and sometimes the breathlessness of the production stretches understanding and sympathy, but it is a rewarding roller-coaster.

Liz Sutherland provides a virtuoso performance, as the restless wife, the tart with a heart, who wants it all, and wants it now. Too often, plays with this kind of central theme are content with cardboard characters, but the woman Liz Sutherland breathes life into is difficult, demanding, sexy and charming all at once. She is a great character, energetically portrayed, so much so that it becomes totally believable that her husband (Jaime Zubairi, providing excellent support) is prepared to kick a beggar in order to get to the bargain tins of dog food.

Both productions are staged on minimal sets, which helps to put the characters and the quality of the acting in focus. The set of Dogs, with just its hint of a Singapore skyline and the car with the couple driving home, is particularly effective. It provides context but allows the actors freedom to escape rigid confines, something that director Kwong Loke fully capitalises on.

Cast Credits: (alpha order within each play): GETTING MARRIED: Andy Cheung - Butler. Liz Sutherland - Bride. Jaime Zubairi - Bridegroom. DOGS: Liz Sutherland - Woman. Jaime Zubairi - Man.

Company Credits: GETTING MARRIED: Writer - Yi Kang-baek. Director - Philippe Cherbonnier. DOGS: Writer - Elangovan. Director - Kwong Loke. (BOTH PLAYS): Designer – Yoon Bae. Lighting Designer - Aideen Malone. Sound Designer - Dinah Mullen. Production Manager – Jez Wingham. Stage Manager – Jen Llewellyn. Press - Martin Shippen. Company – Yellow Earth Theatre. Artistic Director - David Tse. Education Associate - Kumiko Mendl. General Manager - Susannah Kraft. Literary Associate - Philippe Cherbonnier. Website - www.yellowearth.org

END

(c) Michael Spring 2007

reviewed Tuesday 9 October 07 / Oval House

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com