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Musicals
2004 |
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Terry
Pratchett's Only You Can Save Mankind |
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I
haven’t managed to get into reading any Terry Pratchett,
therefore 'Only you can save mankind' was totally new to me.
 The premise that a computer
game can come to life and link every player on earth was
intriguing. The hero 15 years old Johnny Maxwell (Ben Heathcote),
lives in his own dream world, trying to escape reality, from
parental fighting to danger on the streets. When his computer game
'Only you can save Mankind' starts talking to him he has
difficulty in believing. The
Captain of the ScreWee, the alien ships human are fighting in the
game, feels he is the saviour and will be able to save them from
extermination.
During
a game where he is trying to lead the SceWee home he hears another
human voice, that of Kirsty (Ashleigh Gray) who fantasizes she is
a Lara Croft style heroine and save mankind from Aliens. Coming
from the wealthy side of town she knows nothing of Johnny and his
mates.
The
tale is narrated by Richard Hartley as Wobbler and Tim Frater as
Yo-Less teenage friends of Johnny who are also computer games
nerds. Their other friend Big Mac (Bennett Andrews) has problems
with his older brother Nozzer (Jonathan Glew) who wants him to
sell drugs to his mates.
The
Captain of the ScreWee has her own problems when her Gunnery
Officer turns his back on all the traditional beliefs and takes
over planning to attack Earth to kill the humans or die in the
effort.
When
the whole of the game playing population on earth join together to
fight the Aliens, Johnny and Kirsty do their best to free the
Captain, defeat the Gunnery Officer and save Mankind.
This
superb show deserves to be developed into a full length musical.
The plot is simple and fun, punctuated with good musical numbers.
The fact that the seven strong cast have some impressive
CV’s between them obviously helps.
And
the twist? Oh yes! ScreWee means 'Mankind'
***** |
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Fringe Programme page number;
124
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Company; Broadhouse
Productions
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Venue
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V 33, Pleasance One
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Dates
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4th to 30th August 2004
[not 17th]
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Times
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15-45 to 17-15
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| Fringe
news 2004 |
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