Our
Bad Magnet - tour
Playwright - Douglas Maxwell
Director - Jim Twaddle
Company - Borderline Theatre and Tron Theatre production
Dates - tours until 29 Sept tour details
Reviewer - Thelma Good seen at Assembly Rooms Edinburgh at 2001
Fringe
Well written, set in Girvan a Scottish West coast town, Our Bad Magnet's
four male characters are skilfully drawn, with insight and affection
for their failings and strengths. Douglas Maxwell's play main theme
is how do we remember people, which troubles us as we think, how will
we be remembered? The world of the male human when they're just with
their own sex is reflected clearly and entertainingly
This Borderline Theatre and Tron Theatre production has the same cast
and director as the first production of this play in June 2000 by Tron
Theatre Company. Alan (Barrie Hunter) is the fat boy of the three friends
his course into adulthood is predictable and slightly sad, never breaking
away from small town life. The boy who seems most likely to get on Fraser
(Steven Duffy) is intelligent and thoughtful and Paul, (Gary McInnes)a
very young 9, the one who blossoms later. Giggles (Alasdair Macrae)
a special boy who hasn't got a TV, a spinner of stories arrives in their
school and gets loosely attached to this triumvirate. Showing them at
9, 19 and 29 the Playwright has laced in the dimension of Giggles's
stories adding to the underlying poignancy of the play.
The actors all have well observed ensemble performances as boys, young
men and on the verge of the grind of full adulthood, as they return
to their childhood hangout, above a cliff with the sound of the sea.
I do think that the staging, as specified by Maxwell in the published
script, with some machinery used late in the play is clumsy, it removes
too much of the stage at one side, future producers please note!
© Thelma Good 13 August 2001
Reviews
of other Douglas Maxwell play
Tour dates
5 Sept at 7:30pm Adam Smith Theatre Kirkcaldy 01592 412929
6 Sept at 7:30pm Falkirk Town Hall Falkirk 01324
506850
7 Sept at 7:30pm Motherwell Theatre, Motherwell 01698
267515
11 Sept at 7:30pm Brunton Theatre Musselburgh 0131 665
2240
12 Sept at 7:30pm Ryan Centre theatre Stranraer 01776
703535
13 Sept at 7:30pm Lochside Theatre Castle Douglas tickets
from
01556 504506 or tickets@lochsidetheatre.co.uk
14 Sept at 7:30pm Paisley Arts Centre Paisley 0141 887
1010
15 Sept at 7:30pm Volunteer Hall Galashiels tickets from
01750 20842 or artservice@scotborders.gov.uk
18 Sept at 8pm Eden Court Theatre Inverness 01463 234234
19 & 18 Sept at 7:45pm Cumbernauld Theatre 01236 732887
21 Sept at 7:30pm Gaiety Theatre Ayr 01292 611222
22 Sept at 7:30pm Arts Guild Theatre Greenock 01475 723038
24 - 29 Sept at 8pm Tron Theatre Glasgow 0141 552 4267
Tour ends