Beethoven's
Brother
- Tour
Writers - : Donald Mcleary from story by Mcleary and Kate Brailsford
Director - Kate Brailsford
Designer - Mark Leese
Company - Visible Fictions
Production - Visible Fictions & Paisley Arts Centre
Toured -
22 March - 22 April
2001 in Scotland And England
Reviewer
Maureen Sangster
Eric, Beethoven's brother, is constantly compared to him. When Beethoven
returns home from Vienna, Eric has to cope with living with his gifted
brother again. This is a charming piece of children's theatre whose
serious theme is treated comically. And its message, that ordinary talents
need to be valued as much as extraordinary talents, will appeal to parents
and children alike in its March/April tour round Scotland and England.
Eric, feeling he has to compete, claims he's written '123 symphonies!'.
A builder on a building site, he makes out his hard hat is a 'composer's
hat' and sings into it. I saw the play at the Brunton Musselburgh where
the audience of adults and children enjoyed the three actors playing
multiple parts and the funny facial expressions they used. The acting
by Mary Wells, Jay Maney and Stewart Cairns was excellent.
Simple stage furniture is imaginatively used - there's an additonal
small stage with trapdoors out of which actors and props pop up like
magic. Props are versatile - feathers become moustaches, ears, even
characters themselves. Sometimes attention flags in stretches of the
play where the actors mime for too long to Beethoven's music, even though
these sections are well choreographed. But what strucks me is how non-TV
like, how gentle the play is. It assumes innocence and gentleness in
its audience and brings out those qualities. This is a thoughtful drama.
The ending, which I won't give away, though it's not gentle, was much
appreciated - by the four boys behind me, anyway.
© Maureen Sangster 17 March 2001
Other EdinburghGuide reviews of VIsible Fictions Productions
Emily's House. I Bill's
New Frock | Song
From The Sea | The
Pearl.
Theatre listings >>
