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Summer 2004 Mad Dogs & Englishmen were at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the very first time, performing at the Hill Street Theatre. Performances ran from 6th -17th August.
The Scotsman
9th August 2004
Zoe Green: At Hill Street Theatre Venue 41
THE MEDAL *** (three stars)
ANOTHER two-women production, The Medal, is similar in many ways to Two Women and a Chair, but is the better production. A pity, then, that I was the only member of the audience while C Central was packed. I am sure I detected a wry smile as Ann Courtney, writer and joint lead of The Medal, grumbles as her character Bellicose that "they've closed the theatres down because nobody's going to them".
The Medal is about two women stuck together through circumstances beyond their control: war. Bellicose goes scavenging around the trenches, robbing the dead; her companion, Squash, is a prostitute doing her part for the "war effort". While Squash is a dreamer, Bellicose is a pragmatist, but they find some middle ground. The conclusion is predictable but Courtney and co-lead Araceli Chi-Chi Parish are brilliant and make this well worth seeing |
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The Medal (Ann Courtney) |
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In a no-man's land somewhere in Europe in a period of war at sometime in the 21st century, two women meet accidentally. One runs over the other with her baggage cart, and instantly they fall in hate with each other. Bellicose, a racketeer, is making her way North away from one front line. The other, Squash (due to her height) is heading South to the opposite border and is a camp prostitute. They need to survive for one night together in no-man's land.
Bellicose has become extremely mercenary and has no room for sentimentality. On the other hand, Squash relies on her romanticism to keep her from despair. They are diametrically opposed. That is until Bellicose discovers that Squash's only possession of any worth is a medal which she keeps in her boot to keep the rain out.
A bargain and a set of bizarre compromises ensue. The night is spent in a battle of wills and some dramatic realisations about themselves and the world in which we all live. |
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Cast and Crew |
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Ann Courtney:
Performer / Writer / Director
Bellicose
Araceli Chi-Chi Parish:
Squash
Kit Lancaster:
Production / Stage Manager
Steven Kingsbury:
Composer
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The Edinburgh Guide
Reviewer Max Blinkhorn
In a bleak No Mans land, two women, both survivors of some horrendous, wasting war, happen on each other. Each takes a general and instant dislike to the other, suspicion colouring their initial perceptions of each other. It emerges that each has something the other needs. One has the immediate and direct necessity of sustenance but as events unfold, the other appears to have something of value other than food – a medal. The medal of course is a metaphor for something else but as the play develops, the value of both become apparent.
Dressed in elaborate, peculiarly beautiful costumes, and equipped with very plausible props, our two protagonists, Bellicose and Squash played by Ann Courtney and Araceli Chi-Chi Parish, bicker over their meager possessions while the war crashes on somewhere nearby. As an exploration of war and values The Medal; is an enjoyable piece and our two heroines are portrayed energetically and character – you may recognise them. The overall idea of the piece – war showing people what really matters is not new however and I don’t think this play brings anything particularly new to the drama table. It is however, very well written and executed and in the meager setting of the Hill Street Studio, a strong atmosphere is created. Credit is due to the whole company and the obvious talents of Anne and Araceli.The Medal is a bit of serious fun reminding us of the important things in life and the futility of war. I enjoyed it and Mad Dogs and Englishmen will be rightly pleased with their production. |
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