EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2008

Lucky You

• July 31^st – August 25^th
• Assembly Hall
• £20.00 and £17.50
• www.seeluckyyou.com

Fans of Carl Hiassen's comedy thrillers worry that their favourite books might not fare too well as stage or screenplays. I think that Quentin Tarantino would do a good job on some of them. Perhaps that'll happen some day but fans can be reassured that when it comes to the world premiere of Lucky You in the Assembly Hall, they have nothing to fear.

The script is lovingly adapted – and telescoped – from Hiassen's 1997 comedy thriller by Francis Matthews and Denis Calandra. Matthews also directs the production.

All the action from the small Florida town where miracles happen daily via the Hooters bar where two paranoid White Supremacist rednecks meet a lovely blonde long-legged waitress to the Florida Everglades take place on a large centre stage.

Matthews' direction is flawless. Changes of costume and roles takes place at the back and the edges until the appropriate characters take centre in this fast moving, scene-shifting production. Backgrounds are hinted at by a series of little televisions screens scattered around the stage. A catchy new song, Lucky You, is performed on screen by Louden Wainwright III to set the scene at the start and finish of the play.

Nichola Alexis comes across strongly as the Florida vet Jolayne Lucks who wins $14million in he state lottery only to have her winning ticket stolen by the holders of another wining ticket, Chub and Bode. Corey Johnston and Paul Reynolds steal the show (as well as Jolayne's ticket) in their roles as the hapless duo. As Jolayne sets off after the redneck thieves with a pressman in tow, she entrusts her turtles to her neighbours, two religious shysters who operate a weeping Madonna statue racket to con cash from credulous believers.

There are some real laugh-out-loud scenes in this madcap satirical thriller. Look out for Chub's encounter with an angry crab and some fine dialogue. Marvellous stuff.