Qow.txt

http://www.nightnews.net/fringe2008.htm#Qow

Queen of Wyoming, Maggie Simpson - SenovvA
venue :: Musical Theatre @ George Square
see links :: http://www.queenofwyoming.com/queen_of_wyoming/Home.html
http://senovva.com/
category :: Musicals and Opera
Reviewed date :: 22 08 08

Review: 'Queen of Wyoming' was one of several US shows (including 
Judgement of Paris), included in the 'East to Edinburgh' New York 
festival fringe previews. 'East to Edinburgh' is certainly worth
keeping an eye on for the remarkable quality of the productions 
that they pick up on, if these two shows are anything to go by. 
Maggie Simpson, Boston singer, songwriter, acoustic artist, writes
and performs in this remarkably poignant, one-woman theatre piece 
and is directed by Laura Crook. Presented in a containerised, 
temporary theatre space as part of the Musical Theatre at George 
Square, the early start time and steady drizzle of the day may have
reduced audience numbers, but the show went on. The 'toast to water'
that Maggie starts her story with may have been a suitably ironic 
comment given the weather throughout Fringe 2008. In all events Maggie
gives us a remarkable monologue punctuated by short examples of her 
musical performing abilities that combine to leave us struck with 
both aspects of her powerful vocal talents. The narrative concerns 
a call to family duty that destroys the giving, younger Maggie who 
sacrifices theatre school to be a 'helper' on her daddy's brutal 
campaign trail for the Governorship of Wyoming. The sublimation of 
her true self causes her to put on weight, become bulimic and not 
before long alcohol dependant! All her best intentions go hopelessly
wrong, from helping her dad which almost destroys her, to her hopeless
love for older man Carter and her clumsiness at his cat refuge. This 
grim, sad tale set against the crushing banality of the mid-west USA,
the commercial nightmare of bad taste Americana merchandise, fake 
campaign pageantry and monster, vomit inducing steaks, leaves a sour
taste in the apple pie aspects of the landscape that she conjures up
so evocatively. The story may be sad but Maggie Simpson's music is 
tremendously uplifting and leaves you wanting to hear more from this
tough, capable lady, who has 'experience' written all over her wiry,
Western frame. The visceral narrative is sometimes uncomfortable and
quite often heavy going but Maggie emerges from rehab to redeem herself
by working in a grocers shop and saying 'no' to her daddy when he comes
to take her home. We never get to know if he gets elected but by that 
time we are so won over by Maggie’s performance we really don't care. 
Maggie Simpson remains one of those hidden, musical jewels from deep 
in the heart of the USA, that we so rarely get to see or hear in 
Europe. The Fringe could certainly use more performers of this 
musical calibre. 
4 gold bats

by John C Vassallo