Twin Towers satire for Fringe stage [Edinburgh Festival]

Electronic Telegraph ^ | August 7, 2002 | Auslan Cramb

[aculeus]

The destruction of the World Trade Centre has inspired a drag act, stand-up comedians and serious drama at this summer's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

A variety of American performers will be trying out material about September 11 that they have been unable to use at home on the notoriously near-the-knuckle Fringe.

Tina C, the comedy country singer and drag queen, plans to advertise his show with a poster in which he stands in a mini skirt over the Manhattan skyline, with a plane flying towards his legs.

Described as a "biting satire" on media reactions to the attack, it is likely to prove one of the most controversial performances of the 56th Fringe.

Other events dealing with the subject are said to explore the grief, heroism and recovery of America in the aftermath of the attack.

Paul Gudgin, the Fringe director, said there had never been a year, even after the collapse of the Berlin Wall or the Falklands war, in which such a strong trend had run through the programme.

He added that the theatre shows would largely deal with the "feelings and emotions" surrounding September 11, but more controversial responses would be found in comedy shows.

A Fringe spokesman said most of the shows dealing with the issue originated in the US. "Tina C, the creation of the comedian Chris Green, will probably provoke the most controversy.

"Her songs include Stranger on the Stairwell and Kleenex to the World. Many of the performers feel they don't have the open stage at home in America that the Fringe offers, so a lot have come over to perform new material."

The theatre group Project 9/11 relates seven personal accounts of living in New York on the day of the attack, while Jumpers follows four New Yorkers coping with its aftermath. Dance, poetry and music are also used to examine the subject in Bodies in Crisis.

The comedians Rich Hall and Mike Wilmot will put on a show, Pretzel Logic, which seeks to convince the audience that George W Bush is the best President America has ever had.

The other popular theme is the World Cup, which has inspired five shows. Between Aug 4 and Aug 26 there will be a total of 20,300 performances of 1,491 shows at 183 venues. Well-known performers at the Fringe include Rory Bremner, Tony Benn and Elvis Costello.

The largest venue will be the 5,000-seat Royal Highland Centre on the edge of the city, and the smallest is an elevator in which an audience of one will be treated to a 10-minute show.

[Paul Atreides]

A bunch of drag queens making fun of an attack that cost thousands of lives. Well, isn't that special?

[AshleyTodd]

The largest venue will be the 5,000-seat Royal Highland Centre on the edge of the city, and the smallest is an elevator in which an audience of one will be treated to a 10-minute show.

Huh? Or don't I want to know?

[mykej]

If you go to Edinburgh, there's a place in Grassmarket where you can get haggis pizza.

And be on the lookout for deep fried Snickers bars.

[aculeus]

"Her songs include Stranger on the Stairwell and Kleenex to the World. Many of the performers feel they don't have the open stage at home in America that the Fringe offers, so a lot have come over to perform new material."

Translation: He/she/it doesn't have the guts to try this in New York.

[Paul Atreides]

Somehow, I don't think they would go on the road, anywhere, doing a satire of the Matthew Shepherd murder.

[dighton]

Translation: He/she/it doesn't have the guts to try this in New York.

I hope, in vain perhaps, that *no* place in the U.S. would stand for it.

[Paul Atreides]

They saw what happened to George Michael.

[piasa]

And be on the lookout for deep fried Snickers bars.

I think I'll stay home with the toasted ravioli!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

They saw what happened to George Michael.

What happened to him was entirely appropriate. What better fate for these deviants than to be TOTALLY IGNORED.

[opinionator]

The comedians Rich Hall and Mike Wilmot will put on a show, Pretzel Logic, which seeks to convince the audience that George W Bush is the best President America has ever had.

Rich Hall? From 'Snigglets'? Still a comedian? Time to try a new profession!

[Timesink]

Yup, the same Rich Hall. Sounds like his slide into total obscurity is well-deserved. Hate doesn't sell.

[Concentrate]

The British are losing their minds, apparently. All they show is bad taste, which is decidedly not British, traditionally.

Perhaps we need to nuke them and restart a Marshall Program.

[Orual]

This transcends bad taste. The late Dudley Moore was first introduced to American audiences, I believe, in a show called "Beyond the Fringe." This Fringe is beyond the pale.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

A bunch of drag queens making fun of an attack that cost thousands of lives.

And they expect us to take them seriously! Yeah, Right!

[general_re]

A glowing review from the Guardian, surely the last paper you'd ever expect to praise this sort of thing. And then, if you think you have the stomach for it, "Tina C." has an official website....

[aculeus]

Thanks for sharing.

[general_re]

I hesitated momentarily. That picture will be staring at me for a while in my own self-search list ;)

[babble-on]

it's a man, baby

[Bernard Marx]

there's a place in Grassmarket where you can get haggis pizza.

When I was there a joint on the Royal Mile was selling haggis burgers. (Loud retching sound).