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Anorak Of Fire 'The Life & Times Of Gus Gascoigne, Trainspotter' Promethean Theatre Sun 12 March 'Anorak Of Fire' is one of those shows discreetly tucked away in the Fringe programme that draws its crowd from those either curiously taking a chance, or those few people with prior knowledge of the production, and of course word of mouth. Regardless of what got audiences there, one thing that was guaranteed is that all were rewarded with an incredibly keyed up portrayal of a man with one of the most inane past times imaginable, trainspotting. From his earliest memory in the pram, Gus Gascoigne has loved the sight, sound and smell of a big diesel engine and we're taken through a journey that passionately details his obsession in way that's not only consistently amusing with the occasional downright hilarious moment. It's also heart-warming and possibly quite tragic, as most of the laughs are designed to evoke a snigger rather than the belly type. The scene where he almost loses his virginity demonstrates this balance perfectly. Pier Carthew plays Gascoigne brilliantly; and with a series of chairs, an old pedestal fan and a few lamps that cleverly switch from being a passing train to cameo characters, and of course to provide subtle timeframe and scene changes, he enthusiastically transforms the stage from his bedroom to a station platform to a secluded vantage spot beside a track in an instant. There is not a single second where you're not totally mesmerised by his extremely animated performance, and fervently educated in the way of dress codes, lunch box, thermos and notebook protocols and the code of honour amongst spotters. Fantastic!  |
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