Fringe Report

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010

a kate west special report





















The Fringe. One of the most famous theatrical festivals in the world. Held annually in Scotland, any theater geek worth his or her salt cannot afford to miss this celebration of thespian creativity. Originally an off-shoot of the regular festival for those who defiantly wanted their own venue, it is now a respectable entity in its own right and there is nothing like it in the world. Stroll down the Royal Mile (High Street) in Edinburgh, and you will see every kind of performer imaginable, from knife throwers and acrobats, to acapella singers and recitings of Shakespeare. There is something for everyone and with almost 3000 shows this year, the choices are dizzying, not even counting the other festivals in town (Book, Music, International, etc.) So let's start with just a few, shall we?


Shows





















All The Happy People
Project by Greg Hardigan

Two of Hearts Dating Service promises to find you your perfect match. If only it were that easy. This play spotlights behind the scenes, with the harried employees in the trenches. Starting with a sleazy, corporate customer trying to make it with his interviewer, the story covers all the worst about people, dating and bosses. A scoreboard keeps tracks of how many people cry, if that tells you anything. In an inhuman company, with even worse clients, where can new girl Susan find hope? She just might, amidst stellar, strong acting, a relatable script (we've all been there, right, in work and love?) and a real feeling of immediacy, this show is highly recommended. Funny, smart and relevant - a definite must-see.

WHERE
the space @venue 45
63 Jeffrey Street, EH1 1DH
WHEN
August 27-29
14:05 pm
http://www.american-myth.com/



















Jennifer Coolidge - Yours For The Night

The incomparable Jennifer Coolidge (AMERICAN PIE, LEGALLY BLONDE, BEST IN SHOW), delights us during her rant about Hollywood and life. She does stand-up as only she can, conversationally, and in her characteristically self-deprecatingly luscious way. Fearless and heroic, she bares all and we can't help but cheer her on.

WHERE
Assembly @54 Georges Street, EH2 2LR
WHEN
August 26-29
20:15
http://www.edcom10.com/

Matthew Hardy - Willy Wonka Explained: The Veruca Salt Sessions

So many of us grew up with Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka and who can ever forget Julie Dawn Cole as Veruca Salt demanding, "I want it now!" You would think an evening with the older actress might be a fascinating glimpse into our own past, via her pop culture heritage. Yet, this odd idea (celeb and stalker in distinct therapy sessions) is oddly executed. Film clips and crude sketch bits pop up behind the actors without any sense of rhythm or pacing. In fact, the whole show seems thrown together as a vehicle for the rantings of comedian Matthew Hardy and his obsession with his childhood crush (which the real actress does in fact, actually seem uncomfortable with). Seemingly not well thought out, this show can be easily missed (in spite of its "rave" in Melbourne), considering the thousands of other options open to you. Go find them.

WHERE
Pleasance Courtyard @60 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ
WHEN
August 26-29
19:00
lisarichards.ie

In The Pink
Fabulous all-female a cappella!

These ladies from Oxford may not be GLEE-inspired Broadway singers (most of them aren't really belty, more soprano range), but they carry a nice tune. They pick a lot of pop tunes that call for ballsy notes (a la GLEE), but use mostly their upper ranges. That's OK though, as they are awfully cute and have so much fun up on that stage with some pretty adorable numbers. They can sing folks, and have even cut a few albums. Worth a listen for some light refreshment.

WHERE
C Venue 34, Adam House,
Chambers Street, EH1 1HR
WHEN
August 15-30 4:45pm
http://www.inthepink.org.uk/

Free Fringe
http://www.freefringe.org.uk/

Hayden's Rantings Of A Young Fool

Combine some gentle rantings and musings about life and love with some darn good guitar playing (including a few classical numbers) and you've got a really nice afternoon show. Hayden puts you at ease while reciting some cool original poetry and tunes. Feel free to dialogue. He likes that. A real talent, he might be one of those "I-saw-him-when" gems of a find.

WHERE
Banshee Labyrinth*, Venue 156
29-35 Niddry Street, EH1 1LG
http://www.haydencohen.co.uk/
WHEN
August 11-28
1:40pm
FREE

*Also at the same venue:

'Utter!' Spoken Word
"Poetry & storytelling with a good sense of humour. Humour with a good sense of poetry.
Free shows, fresh themes and a different line up every day."
August 7-28 @7:30pm every day except Monday

Read more!

Live from the MET

The Metropolitan Opera
a kate west recommendation






Great news for opera lovers! You've always wanted to see the Met in New York but haven't had the time or the money? Now you can see it at a theater near you in High Definition spectacular vividness. Check your local listings and don't ruin it by buying popcorn. Thank you, New York! We heart you.

Tickets at http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events.aspx

Sneak peek here:
Read more!

Fiddles and Violins

a kate west reflection






Not many people know this, but I used to play the violin. For almost two decades. I started as a child with the Suzuki method (or "Talent Education"), which is like an immersion technique, enabling children to learn by rote. The theory behind it is that if young children can acquire language skills so easily, they can do the same with musical languages and become proficient on a musical instrument. Critics say that brute memorization (also classic preparation for Spelling Bees) isn't really learning, it's just reciting. But I digress.

The real musical challenge came when I moved from Kentucky to California and had to find a new violin instructor. I don't know where my parents found him, but I started with a cranky old Russian master, Aaron Sten (founder of the California Youth Symphony and the Peninsula Symphony Orchestra). He's passed away now (February 27, 1994 at age 77), but back in the day he was a formidably impatient teacher. He taught passion and demanded perfection and gave me incredibly difficult pieces to try, all the while disparaging my previous training. Unfortunately, I wasn't made to be a virtuoso, but at least I learned about discipline, gained a deep respect for classical artistry and started to attend more symphonic concerts. To this day, I don't clap between movements. I also learned how to read music, which helped me in my singing.

So even though I'm sure my mother is still disappointed not to see me in Carnegie Hall, I feel like I experienced something profound and will never forget Mr. Sten. He was a great teacher, even when screaming at me, because it came from a place of true wisdom. Thank you, Maestro. Oh and in case you were wondering, a fiddle is a violin and a violin is a fiddle. The only difference is the location.

"Spontaneous joy in music, in performing or listening, comes naturally to the young, and it is a privilege to feel its spark". - Aaron Sten Read more!