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Histrionics
Thursday, 14th August 2008
Histrionics new comedy play based on C17th coffehouse theatre nods its head to Commedia Dell'arte
Live: Cast of Histrionics - Christopher Niederberger and Daniela Finley
Performances: International cabaret artiste Paul.L.Martin
Live Lute Player
Info: 07903814444 . www.histrionicstheplay.co.uk
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Babybelly, The Caves, Niddry St South, Edinburgh
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Tickets: Previews £6.00 £8.50 - £9.50
Time: 11:30pm - 12:30pm
Drink deep the mysterious pleasures of commedia dell'arte with the cast of Histrionics at the Edinburgh Fringe
London, 20 July 2008 New comedy Histrionics by first-time playwright James Butler will receive its world premiere at this year’s Fringe. Nodding its head to Commedia dell’arte, this unique and irreverent story gives a brand new spin to a fine old tradition.
Running for the full four weeks of the Fringe Festival, the Histrionics cast invites you to the Whistling Whistle coffeehouse in 17th century Drury Lane for a FREE COFFEE at every performance to perhaps raise the spirit of
James Butler, the author, comments: “This is the first play I’ve written and produced, and the amount of work required is surprisingly swollen and prodigious,” but admits that, “the almost erotic thrill of hearing these characters given life, and an audience enjoying their company makes it worthwhile.”
London-based director James Martin Charlton’s previous work includes the sell-out hit Gob starring Jason Orange at London's King's Head Theatre. For Histrionics he proposes a dynamic, sometimes riotous yet emotionally true staging, with the Drury Lane 17th Century coffeehouse set concealing subtle visual effects, and the rich depths of this morality play-cum-comedy peeking through to haunt the comic buffoonery of the characters and the witty rococo surface of the dialogue.
The story follows a young man's struggle to stage his own play. Protagonist Wolfio Pigram is dogged by a host of unwilling actors and a beautiful yet deadly actress, whilst being constantly mollycoddled and interrupted by his dead mother's ghost. This is accompanied dutifully by a live lutist dishing out twists on 17th century folk songs.
The audience is taken on a journey into a seedy, twisting and intriguing world, where nothing is quite as it seems, melding with the crowd in this murky, down-at-heel coffeehouse and becoming at one with the locals. Herein they will meet a veritable God's plenty of lively and licentious characters, from henpecked apothecary Vole and lovable, war-damaged loon Crimbo to the loathsome and demonic Hanging Judge. Histrionics reveals a strangely familiar world of shallow materialism and celebrity dreams needing redemption by the spirit of love.
The talented young company of actors include Christopher Niederberger as Wolfio and Daniela Finley making her professional debut as Furtive Grange. International cabaret artiste Paul L Martin of Sideshow fame dons a frock once again to play Nimbus, the overbearing yet insightful ghost mother.
Press Contact: Sarah Taylor - taylorspr@gmail.com
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