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| Edinburgh : A&E : Theatre: Reviews |
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Theatre listings > The Breathing House
- World Premiere.
Fear, Love and Lies might be another title for this play which breathes
indeed. Set in an Edinburgh of the 1860's just a side step away from historical
truth, it's the city as it ever is. Oh so respectable in its public veneer
but once you've got the posh frock off, there's nae knickers and gey few
excuses.
Meanwhile Cloon finds increasing harmony with his servant Hannah, something not done then. In a scene of great and wordless tenderness, luminously played by Neil McKinven as Cloon and Kathryn Howden as Hannah, he finds her working strongly attractive. But unknown to him she also visits the Breathing House where Rachael, played with driven feel by Janette Foggo, her religious sister lives with a young girl, the haunting Sorrow, Kirsty Mackay. Nor is the quality of this production just in the acting or direction. Jeanine Davies's lighting is striking in its shadow and light. Calum Colvin's set with its two off-centred revolves, creating small rooms and busy, wide streets by turn is a exciting stage design debut from an artist famed for his 3 and 2 dimensional art. In the suggested rooms the Victorian paintings of Walter Scott, Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson and Lord Byron all underlining the Scottish mix of success, private disaster and scandal. The videos by Michael Windle give us evocative black and white images of Cloon's picture of working women and Edinburgh back then, skilfully directed to evoke atmosphere without halting the pace, while Matthew Scott's often lyrical music is never intrusive but always apposite to what we see. Last but not least the stage crew do an excellent job of setting the frequent scene changes, in this production the ensemble cast clearly includes all behind as well as on the stage. It's a production which for three weeks will answer the question "where's yer national theatre now?" It's on the stage at the Royal Lyceum. In this his last production for the Royal Lyceum its outgoing Artistic Director Kenny Ireland has shown us again, as he did in Victory, what we are failing to do enough of. Big plays and big productions, big in scope, in imagination, in cast and talent and creative thrust. And indeed probably big in budget, but so worth it when it delivers a production (and a new play too in this case) so developed and sharp. The Breathing House powerfully works nearly every second of its 2 hours 15 minutes plus time, a considerable feat for a new play. Going beyond the veneer of polite society, encompassing the good at heart, the weak, the doing all right and the bottom of the pile, The Breathing House doesn't only bring to life the Auld Reekie of 1860s. It also reflects and recalls the paradoxes of our Edinburgh or any city, which breathes the same duplicitous air today. © Thelma Good 26 April 2003. - Published on EdinburghGuide.com The Award for Best Design went to Calum Colvin, one of Scotland's most respected photographic artists making his debut as a theatre designer. His giant breathing bellows, like the bellows of an old-fashioned camera, were designed for Peter Arnott's impressive new Victorian melodrama, The Breathing House. It was produced by the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company, Edinburgh and directed by Kenny Ireland, who is about to retiring from being its Artistic Director after 10 years of seeing the company into its present vibrant form. 2003 Cats Awards Full Details. Cast: Cloon - Neil McKinven. Hannah - Kathryn Howden. Gilbert - Forbes Masson. Agnes - Cora Bisset. Elizabeth - Jennifer Black. Rachael - Janette Foggo. Littlejohn - Michael MacKenzie. Davey - Ronnie Simon. Abercrombie/Minister 1/Dr Moffat - Barrie Hunter. Juggler/Minster2/Turnkey - Mark McDonnell. Katie - Jodie Campbell. Sorrow - Kirsty Mackay. All other parts played by members of the company. Theatre listings >
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