This week I asked for a little help from my Brighton Writer friends so that we could cover more shows. Thanks to our combined efforts we've posted reviews on Bitchelors, Bernard Shaw Invites You! and Embassy Court Tours with reviews of The Ladyboys of Bangkok, Messiaen, Bonny Boys are Few and Half a Cod a Day on their way. All in all it was a busy week.
Last Sunday ended on a high with the show Bitchelors. Reviewed by Amelia Charman her favourite character was Jane Dough, who 'on first impressions was a shy and nervous baker before emotionally revealing that she had been lacing her sweet treats with cocaine and MDMA for the last two years.'
On Wednesday Sophie Turton reviewed Bernard Shaw Invites You! and was enchanted to watch O'Keefe take on the thoughts and characteristics of George Bernard Shaw with such ease. To the point where 'it became impossible to untangle Shaw’s own language from the lines devised for the performance.'
Friday took me to St Nics for a read through of a play with Harriet Walter and to be stunned once again by Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, which was played in the second half and is part of MOOT's (Music of Our Time) programme of events.
Saturday was ridiculously windy, but the sea looked brilliant, especially from the sun terrace of Embassy Court when I joined the tour for the first time. Our guide was the well-informed Cara Courage who filled the tour with fascinating insights into the history and people of Embassy Court. When we stepped out onto the sun terrace, it really felt like we were walking out onto the deck of a cruise liner. Quite a peculiar sensation, but in a good way. The views from every angle were spectacular and it sent me into snap-happy heaven.
Saturday night took me to see Bonny Boys are Few, written and acted by Michael John O'Neill. Bonny Boys are Few was certainly some tale, encompassing a time-travelling conquistador, a misery-eating eel, and a journey from Peru to Earth’s end via a shut door in Dublin. Enormous Yes are challenging the conventions of play-acting, mixing it up with different media and merging fact and fiction. Although rough round the edges in my view, it is a huge part of what the Fringe is about, emerging talent.
Heading into Week 2 there are yet more delights in store. So, with the Fringe speeding onwards here are a few shows I'm looking forward to next week and why.
Thief by Liam Rudden, Company: LRStageworks
Venue: Marlborough Theatre, Category: Theatre
13-18 May 19:30 £10 (£8) [50mins]
Premièring at Brighton Fringe 2014, it's the story of a sailor who thrives in the bars, dives and flop-houses of the most squalid ports. Living for robbery, imprisonment and expulsion, he offers rent, theft, and betrayal. Inspired by the life and works of playwright and poet Jean Genet, Thief is a dark and challenging piece of theatre, not for the easily offended.
It sounds extraordinary and yes I am easily offended, so I'm not sure what I'm letting myself in for.
Albert Einstein: Relativitively Speaking, Company: Tangram Theatre Company,
Venue: The Old Courtroom, Category: Theatre
15-18 May 18:00 £8 (£6) [1hr]
As one of my bessies and my Cardiff fella are both science geeks, I am drawn by default to join Albert for a lecture, billed as 'like none you’ve ever seen.' Accompanied on piano by his wives, mum and guest rapper MC Squared, 'the genius behind the übercoolest moustache in science quantum leaps us through two Theories of Relativity and two very big bombs.' What's not to like?
Jamie MacDowell and Tom Thum, Company: Theaterland Promotions
Venue: The Warren, Category: Music
16-17 May 19:15 £11 (£9.50) 18 May 19:15 £11 (£9.50, £7.50 Student) [1hr 10mins]
Billed as 'He is good with his fingers, the other is good with his mouth! When Jamie's heartfelt songwriting and melodic finger-work meet Tom's heavy hitting, world-class beatboxing, the outcome is mind-blowing. Playing off each other's talents, these two are the perfect musical match.' I'd love to go and see if it's that good.
For more Brighton blogging previews and reviews check out my blog.
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