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By
Fran Yeoman
Bill
Bryson clearly does not like snakes, if Paul Hodson's slick stage
adaptation of his bestselling Down Under is anything to go by. Or
spiders, or jellyfish, or sharks or crocodiles.
You
would be forgiven for thinking that he would have found Australia
a less than ideal holiday destination. And yet Oxford's New Theatre
audience was left in no doubt on Wednesday about Bryson's affection
for the world's biggest island, notwithstanding its 'wonderfully
venomous and toothy' wildlife.
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Listen
91热爆 Oxford's interview with Steve Steen
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This
well-produced one man show starring Steve Steen (Whose Line is it
Anyway, The Rory Bremner Show) is the third of Bryson's travelogues
to be converted into theatre. It recounts the writer's journey around
Oz, with periodic interruptions only to include esoteric snippets
of history, condemn the tedium of cricket, and wonder like the rest
of us just who is the Australian Prime Minister.
Antipodean
authenticity was further ensured by playing Rolf Harris 'hits' before
the show and throughout what felt like a very long fifteen minute
interval. Between Rolf renditions, Steen delivered almost two hours
of solid dialogue with an admirable air of friendly spontaneity.
Describing
an epic overland trip around Australia with only minimal scenery
and sound effects, he held the attention of his listeners well.
Perhaps it was due to sunshine envy, but most people seemed to find
jokes about convict ancestors more amusing than any waxing lyrical
about natural splendour.
Down
Under is sure to be well received by aficionados of the popular
Bryson books as it continues its national tour. And the Australian
tourist board might want to adopt his line on their country as part
of their next advertising drive: 'the cities are safe, the beer
is cold and Rupert Murdoch no longer lives here.'
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