Coming soon to the Etcetera Theatre

Camden’s popular Etcetera Theatre has these five productions in June and early July.

Black and White and Red, a black comedy by Sam Sedgman, from 14 to 19 June 2011. Produced by Keep Me. A simple interview for a London paper transforms into a battle of wills between writer and subject, as an unfolding crisis on the other side of the world draws out compromising truths about both of them.

You’re Still Young, devised by LAMDA graduates and written by Stephen Middleton, from 21 to 23 June 2011. Produced by Ribaldry. Tries to uncover the truth behind one of the most important relationships of any man’s life – with his father.

Psycho That Came To Tea, by Jess Leavins, from 24 to 26 June 2011. Produced by Firefly Theatre Company Ltd. Directed by Lee White, starring Darren Stoneham, Sheryl Miles, Jess Leavins . Ultimately a story of sex, money and power.

The Snowfall, by Simon Tierney, from 28 June to 3 July 2011. A modern relationship comedy about the experience of realising you’re not as young as you thought you were.

Feathers, by Eliza Power, reworking of the Ovidian tale of Tereus and Procne from the Metamorphoses, from 5 to 9 July 2011. Produced by Sibling Productions, directed by Jennifer Tang. Marisa and Dan’s relationship is compromised after Marisa invites her estranged sister Edie into their home. As Dan’s attraction to Edie develops, a dark history between the two sisters begins to emerge.

Sitcom Pilot Launch

Sarah Akokhia by (c) Bjoern Kommerell 2010

Launch party for sitcom pilot Him at London’s Soho Hotel. Him involves mother Iris (cross-dressing Matthew Rose, with impressive breasts) and her husband Tony (James Taylor Thomas), their son Him (Harry Charrington), their neighbour Geoff (Monty Burgess) and a manager (Sarah Akokhia, pictured); also old masters, some significant bunting, and lashings of Grand Guignol horror. Who was there? Full story here http://fringereport.com/11london.php#110515confugiumhimlaunch

The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

At the Barons Court Theatre in June. Adapted for the stage by Connie Stephens

“One vile reptile will devour the other. And serve them both right too!”

Dmitry Karamazov has killed his father.  Everyone thinks so.  He was seen running from the crime scene covered in blood, he has both motive and weapon and he’s spent the last month telling everyone he’s going to do it.

But has he?  Does one of his brothers know more than he’s telling?  Or is the devil involved?

A delve into faith, fibbing and dysfunctionality, Dostoyevsky’s passionate last novel is brought to the intimate stage of Barons Court Theatre in this new adaptation by Myriad Productions Ltd who specialise in brand new adaptations of the classics, using minimalist sets, stylised props and costumes, and high-calibre actors.

Tuesday 14th – Saturday 25th June 2011, 7.30 pm (no shows Sun or Mon)

Venue: Barons Court Theatre, The Curtain’s Up Pub, Comeragh Road, London W14 9HR

Is theatre safe in the hands of grown-ups?

Mike Bradwell’s book The Reluctant Escapologist wins the Theatre Book Prize

Mike Bradwell wins the Theatre Book Prize

Mike Bradwell, whose affection for the late Ken Campbell seems to know no bounds, has won this year’s Theatre Book Prize for The Reluctant Escapologist.

Speaking for the judges, critic Jann Parry said, “Because (he) immersed himself so enthusiastically in the theatrical experiments of the 1960s and 70s, he’s remained a believer even while he’s clear-headed – and very funny – about the madder idealism of some of the practitioners. He’s provocative, witty, scabrously honest and very angry about admin personnel who believe they’re worth more than the artists they’re supposed to support.”

Mike Bradwell’s advice to people with a theatre dream, ‘Find a play. Squat a building. Now make a show’.

The Reluctant Escapologist is published by Nick Hern books, price £14.99

Launch of Fugitive Ink

It’s the launch party of Fugitive Ink, an exhibition of the work of artists Jake Spicer, Claire Blake, Clare Plumley, Felicity Stafford, Duncan Cromarty, Molly Perrin, Francesca Cluney, Rebecca Jenkins. It’s in Duncan Cromarty’s flat – which is also an exhibit as part of Brighton’s Artists Open Houses. And artist Francesca Cluney is also art, drawn by organiser Jake Spicer. Claire Blake’s art is cakes (delicious). Here’s the full story… http://www.fringereport.com/11london.php#110506fugitiveinklaunch

Warmth and Decency

I suppose that’s how I viewed clothes (writes actress Sarah Whitehouse) and as a result, had no interest in fashion.

My wardrobe consisted of my collection of faithful, all-occasion, indestructible items – jeans, a hoodie and a little black dress to go out in.

Until I moved to Holloway, London, and discovered a magical little shop… full story… http://fringereport.com/fashion.php#warmthanddecency

Upstairs at the Three and Ten Launch

It’s a cool evening in Brighton with a cloudless sky. The English Channel is the city’s southern boundary, and often it’s a wild, killing, ocean. Extreme Brightonians swim the sea in winter; more moderate ones sit on the beach (painful: it’s shingle rather than sand).

Tonight the sea’s calm and turquoise, and it’s the launch of Upstairs at the Three and Ten’s programme for this year’s Brighton Fringe. Who was there?

Full story at http://www.fringereport.com/11london.php#110505upstairsathethreeandtenlaunch

Ken Campbell, Mark Borkowski article

Photo by Richard Adams of Ken Campbell

May Day 2011... Two unrelated events coincide... Publicist Mark Borkowski leaves Borkowski PR - it becomes Beige - launches new agency in own name... and legendary improviser the late Ken Campbell's definitive biography is published. Mark Borkowski called him 'One of the five truly great men I have met in my life'. Before he died, Ken Campbell spoke with Fringe Report about Mark Borkowski... full article at

http://www.fringereport.com/art1105markborkowski.php

Giselle, from Dublin’s Gay Theatre Festival

Ballet with bondage overtones

Dublin Gay Theatre Festival 2011 – Back Loft, La Catedral Studios, 7-11 St Augustine Street, Dublin 8 – 9.30pm (65 minutes) – May 4-7 (show seen May 6)

In this combination of a contemporary dance and spoken one-man show, Mercier tells parts of his personal journey, particularly his classical ballet training and his ‘coming out’ to his family as a gay man.

The juxtaposition of naked ballet with some bondage gear – and quite a lot of rose petals – makes the piece highly unusual and interesting visually.  He pokes fun at the conventions of both the ballet and bondage worlds.

But perhaps the best parts are where Mercier simply stands up and tells his story in a deadpan way, with the right mix of humour and straightup honesty.  These are used as interludes in the dance performance, which are perhaps too brief and could be expanded, to make use of his talents in this area, which are as strong as his dancing ability.

Cast Credits: Performer – Joseph Mercier.

Company Credits: Producer – Clara Giraud; Co-Produced by – Chisenhale Dance Space; Dramaturgy – Zlata Camdzic; Lighting Design – Ziggy Jacobs.  Special Thanks to – Jessica Muche, Bruno Vinhas & Seamus Bradley.

© Colman Higgins 2011

Cloaked, by Ricardo Melendez

Neo-Shakespearean drama about gender

Dublin Gay Theatre Festival 2011 – Back Loft, La Catedral Studios, 7-11 St Augustine Street, Dublin 8 – May 2-7 – 8pm (70 minutes – May 2 & 7 at 2.30pm also) – show seen May 6

This costume drama is set in a Renaissance milieu in an unspecified European country and phrased in beautiful Shakespearean language – but explores themes that were very much forbidden at that time.

Queen Sofia is actually a man pretending to be a woman, because of a decision his now-dead mother made to protect him as a baby, from rebels intent on killing a male heir.

Not only that, he is gay, which allows him to have a secret romance with courtier Alonso, who is unaware of his Queen’s true nature, as she only ever allows him to have anal sex.  To complicate matters further, a religious fanatic (Orozco) is intent on burning any gay members of the nobility at the stake.  The subterfuge in which Sofia has to engage is eating her inside and the play is about how she resolves this conflict.

The language used is similar to that of Shakespeare’s period and is almost as colourful and elegant as that of the Bard himself, while remaining completely comprehensible to the modern listener.  When the fantastically lavish costumes are added, the overall sensory effect is an unremittingly delightful experience.

Melendez’s acting is as flawless as his writing and he could almost have carried off the play as a one-man show.  While the moral message of the play could be seen as slightly heavy-handed, the elegance of its presentation means that any such stridency is barely noticeable.

Cast Credits:  Queen Sofia – Ricardo Melendez; Lord Orozco / Alonso – CJ Vogt; Lord Giacomo / Francesco – Patrick Marlett.

Company Credits: Director – Steve Earle; Writer – Ricardo Melendez; Inspired by – Franciso Ors’ CONTRADANZA.

© Colman Higgins 2011