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The Fall Play Hey! Luciani: Riverside Studios, London

Len Brown, New Musical Express, December 1986

THERE'S A PLAY in every one of us, even Ernie Wise. And perhaps Mark E. Smith. In fact, most of the ingredients are here, maybe even a plot: was Pope John Paul I poisoned for trying to revolutionize the papacy and stamp out its ungodly involvement in gun-running and organised crime? MES has also got some key "alternative" props, – toytown papal balcony, igloo, deathbed, Michael Clark (quick twirl and "the Devil get ready"), and overhead screen. Onto the last he projects images of everyday life: mouths, puke, hands in chains, mutilation, fire and, naturally, maggots munching on eyes.

Total word count of piece: 383

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