“We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold”
After a successful London stint, the Pleasance Theatre and theatre director Lou Stein are bringing their adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to the Edinburgh Fringe for its Scottish Premiere.
Running from 30th July – 25th August at the Pleasance Beyond (60 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ), the production balances the hilarious commentary of Hunter S Thompson, with the hallucinogenic rollercoaster ride which his alter-ego, Raoul Duke, and his drug-crazed attorney Gonzo take as they encounter an array of terrified locals and blood curdling lizards and search for the American Dream.
The piece celebrates the work of Hunter S. Thompson almost a decade after his passing, highlighting his work as the creator of gonzo journalism. Stein’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was inspired by the work of legendary illustrator and Thompson’s collaborator Ralph Steadman. The play also features some of his work.
Speaking of his interpretation of the story, Lou Stein invites the viewer to “… discover one of the wildest, most vibrant and utterly essential books of our time in a theatrical context. By surrounding the audience with the colour, sounds and soul of the 70s, the play will become an event experience. The production marks a continuation of my long friendship with the artist Ralph Steadman, whose visual art is part of its DNA, but it is also a celebration of Hunter S Thompson – he was an ally, friend, and has been a gonzo beacon for me throughout my theatre career.”
The cast includes Rob Crouch as the attorney Dr. Gonzo. Rob’s one man-show about Oliver Reed, ‘Wild Thing’, has been touring nationally and recently appeared at the Ambassador’s Theatre, London. Also starring is American actor John Chancer playing Hunter Thompson. The cast of six play dozens of roles made famous from the book.
For tickets, visit the Edinburgh Festival Fringe website
Editor of Frowning.us (SSJA 2014 Student Publication of the Year) & Film Writer for The Edinburgh Reporter
