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Pea Green BoatStewart Lee – Pea Green Boat

Venue Traverse Theatre (Venue 15)

By Rez Guthrie in Edinburgh Guide.com Posted on Tuesday, August 20th, 2002

An almost full capacity audience waits patiently in line for the opening night of Stewart Lee’s new show. Behind me some bloke recites the Edward Lear poem from which the show takes its name.

Stewart Lee takes the stage almost immediately we are seated. He apologises fullsomely for the delay, explaining that the Traverse were trying to clear away the set behind him, part of the preceding play, which consists of rocks, sand, and almost an entire Hebridian island. He says that if we get bored during his show we could imagine living on that island. In actual fact, he couldn’t have got a better set if he’d commissioned it himself. It lacks only a bong tree.

You cannot deconstruct nonsense verse, for that way lies madness. And by a similar token, if you try to make sense of nonsense, you will go round in circles like a wee boat adrift at sea. The experienced writer, performer, and director,(here epitomised), knowsthat this really handy, as bathos is a cornerstone of comedy.

Simon Munnery takes on two supporting roles, one of which is that of Lear himself, replete with beard. His fulsome comedic voice can be heard clearly despite the oversized merkin, and he’s brilliant; a Shakespearean clown nearing the peak of his talents. Catch him solo at the Stand if you can.

The show is great, doubly so if you’re a fan as I’d guess most of tonight’s audience were. If you haven’t seen Lee before, try this anyway, although those expecting a full and scholarly examination of Lear’s most famous work are undoubtedly meowing up the wrong bong tree.

Runs until Aug. 24. at 10.45-11pm £14/£9
© Rez Guthrie 20 August 2002 – Published on EdinburghGuide.com

Written by Rez Guthrie in Edinburgh Guide.com on 20th August 2002. Filed Under: Pea Green Boat
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