A riotous romp through England

The cast of Taipei Alien Dramatic Society's Withnail and I, featuring the ``Camberwell carrot,'' center. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TAIPEI ALIEN DRAMATIC SOCIETY

Members the Taipei Alien Dramatic Society (TADS) invite you for a hilarious romp in the English countryside this weekend, when members of the amateur acting troupe bring an adaptation of Bruce Robinson's 1987 flick, Withnail and I to the stage of the popular bar/performance venue, The Living Room.

The first outing for TADS since its March production of Dashiell Hammett's 1932 The Maltese Falcon, the amateur dramatic troupe's latest production is guaranteed to have audiences in fits of laughter. Besides introducing a host of loathsome yet memorable characters, the show is packed with many sidesplitting moments.

TADS' of Withnail and I features TADS veterans Rowan Hunter, Maurice Harrington, Rob Kernahan and newcomer, Dean Leppan in the starring roles. Dean Karalekas, Diana Aretz and Peter Balfry pick up the parts of the numerous extras, all of whom have the misfortune to cross paths with the play's main protagonists at one time or another.

Set London's swinging 1960s, the story follows the misadventures of Withnail (Hunter) and Marwood (Leppan), two unemployed alcoholic actor flatmates who consume a copious amount of narcotics, drink lighter fluid -- when nothing else is available -- and live in an apartment cockroaches would be ashamed to be seen in.

The Living Room is located at 3F, 8 Nanjing E Rd, Sec 5, Taipei (台北市南京東路5段8號3F). Performances will take place at 7:30pm tomorrow and Sunday evening. A Sunday matinee will be held at 2:30pm. Tickets cost NT$250 and are available at the door. The price includes one free drink.

Fed with the damp and piles of washing-up, an irate Irishman and a drug dealer named Danny (who rolls a 12-paper joint called the Camberwell carrot), the pair decide to leave their fetid north London flat for a holiday in the countryside at Withnail's uncle Monty's cottage.

The holiday doesn't quite go to plan, however. When they arrive at the country cottage they discover psychotic country folks, worse weather than in London and no food. And, to make matters worse, the rather eccentric uncle Monty starts to take a disturbingly keen interest in young Marwood.

TADS' of Withnail and I contains strong language and has an adult theme. It is not suitable for young audiences and viewer discretion is advised. --