clas.txt

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http://www.nightnews.net/fringe2007.htm#clas
Title: Class - Class Stage Productions
4 gold bats
http://www.class-stage.co.uk/class/index.html

22 08 07 - In this sexy and challenging comedy, writer Kirsty Ayre
explores the notion of social class in post Thatcher and post New
Labour Britain. The show is sponsored by Ann Summers and its cast,
including a full troupe of pole dancers all have impeccable acting
backgrounds; it's a convincing production in the genre of a 'west-
end farce.' Nigel the strip bar owner is trying to impress his 
posh bird Elise but doesn’t want her to know how he makes his
money. He pretends to be a restaurateur but this just succeeds 
in causing him even more social discomfiture. The girls from the
strip bar sound the part and are quite endearing in their London-
centric, 'cockney sparra' kind of way. We share their dressing 
room, hear their banter, see their characters fleshed out, watch 
them don their street clothes and shuffle off. Being set in London,
there are some by now mandatory, Polish builders in the plot as it
thickens. Social comment about the inequalities, absurdities and 
injustices of life slip into most scenes and no one is safe. This
especially applies to any men in the front row as the pole dancers
run through their, not very complimentary but still amusing, 
'internal narratives,' as they dance! All of the girls have a
story and everyone’s story is linked and intertwined making for
some unusual twists, turns, ironies and coincidences. The polish
builders get upset because the sister of one who also dances at 
the strip club becomes pregnant and Nigel is suspected. Nigel is 
also foolishly paying for them to do some work at Elise's and ends
up in hospital with some broken ribs! The show has a real message 
about the dangers of 'maintaining appearances' and 'class' 
deference. Its a little less certain that society at large really
goes to those lengths any more; there are for instance plenty of 
highly educated middle class strippers with equity cards in 
crumbling Britain, post Thatcher and Blair! In fact one of the 
dancing girls is also a Law student. At least Nigel looks after his
dancers which almost makes him a decent fellow. The final scene at 
his bedside descends into a farce and Elise is revealed as the 
dastardly MD of 'Sans Culottes,' the porn vid business! Its a 
genuinely funny, raunchy yarn, with a bit of a message, which is a
lot of fun to watch!

By John Vassallo