Fringe theatre (alternative theatre, or entertainment not of the mainstream) is all the rage in 2007 and the likes of Equus have kicked up a media frenzy. Not only does the bizarre story grab your attention but the fact that Harry Potter aka Daniel Radcliff strips bare! Equus despite it’s incessant reviews on Radcliff’s nudity, is an astonishing play and the fact that ‘Potter’ bares all should be overlooked. It’s the story of Alan Strang, an obedient 17 year old boy who has a passion for horses. One night in an uncontrollable rage he blinds six horses with a hoof pick with no cause or reason to do so. What drove him to this crime? Martin Dysart (Richard Griffiths) a psychiatrist sets out to solve this psychological puzzle and cure Strang from his terrible nightmares.
The Soldiers Fortune and The Tempest are two other examples of brilliant Fringe Theatre and they are showing in the West End right now. The Soldiers Fortune is a subtle comedy showing the new found sexual freedoms of the restoration era, after the Puritans were booted out of the government the public went about having some good old fun again. Beaugard and Courtine, the two lead characters, return to London from wars abroad - empty handed and disenchanted. Beaugard with the help of gold digging Clarinda (who is married to Sir Davey Dunce - an old, rich man) hatch a plan to make themselves very rich and ditch the aptly named ‘Dunce’.
Patrick Stewart has been beamed down from the Starship Enterprise to the West End to star in Shakespeare last magical play - The Tempest. Combining love, tragedy and comedy in equal measures, The Tempest is an all rounder. Stewart plays Prospero, the out-casted Duke of Milan who was sent off to die on a boat but found exile on a small island. However Prospero had learned sorcery and uses it to control the island and draws his enemies to the enchanted island to exact his revenge, yet ultimately finds peace and the ability to forgive.

So if you want something a little different to the Glitz and Glam of the West End go and see some fringe theatre for an edgy and different experience.

Technorati Tags: Daniel Radcliff, Daniel Radcliff nudity, edgy theatre, Equus, fringe theatre, horses, shakespeare, The Soldiers Fortune, The Tempest

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This entry was posted on Friday, March 9th, 2007 at 3:09 pm and is filed under Theatre. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.