3 Stars

***

Gilda played by Gael Le Cornec is a single, attractive young woman living in a Brazilian favela in this tragicomedy written by Rodrigo de Roure who lives in Rio de Janeiro. She makes a living by raising chickens and pigs. Killing and cooking her animals dominate her solitary existence. However, she may be living alone but she does not lack for male company from the visits she is paid by a number of the local married men.

Gael le Cornec plays her role with vibrancy and a kind of innocent sexiness. Gilda is an enticing woman. Naturally, her behaviour does not go down well with the women of the neighbourhood.

She dreams of escape from her situation and she makes a costume change from a simple short skirt to a glamorous red dress, but the harsh realities of her life are never far away and she will not have her looks for ever. What is the saddest feature of her life is that she does not appear to have any close relationships with other women.

The play has a good pacing with the generally humorous approach punctuated with moments of reflection. One slightly annoying aspect is the excessive use of towels to depict the killing of the chickens and the cooking activity. Good idea at the beginning but it is overdone and becomes a distraction. Despite this, Gael le Cornec’s performance is most polished and assured.

Reviewed by Ben

New Town Theatre: 7

4 to 2 August 2011 (not 9, 16, 23)

14.50 – 15.50

Fringe Programme Page Number: 274