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Outlying Islands
- Tour.
Premiered at Traverse at 2002 Fringe.
Awarded the 2003 Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland For Best new
Play.
Playwright - David Grieg.
Director - Philip Howard.
Assistant Director - Helen-Marie O'Malley.
Designer - Fiona Watt.
Lighting Designer - Chahine Yavroyan.
Music - Gavin Marwick.
Venue Traverse Theatre.
Address Cambridge Street, Edinburgh.
Tel 0131 228 1404
Plays until 10 May 2003 then touring.
Time 8pm.
Tickets £10 (£6/£4).
Reviewer Ksenija Horvat.
Cast - here .
Tour Venues, Dates and Times - here .
Seen to review at Traverse Theatre 29 April..
Reviewer - Ksenija Horvat.
Fast moving multilayered drama.
Outlying Islands - Traverse Production.
Lesley Hart - Ellen , Laurence Mitchell- Robert, Robert Carr - Kirk/Captain,
and Sam Heughan - John.
© Douglas Robertson 2002.
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It is a widely known fact that David Greig can churn out a good tale.
His previous work such as The Speculator, Europe and Victoria, for example,
are the living proof of it. It is also well known that he can write powerful
characters and compelling dialogues. Well, his new play Outlying Islands
is no different. Set on a remote Scottish island on the eve of the Second
World War, it portrays relationships
between an old islander and his niece, the only inhabitants of the island,
and two young orinthologists sent by the government to survey the birds.
This is a fast moving multilayered drama about a loss of innocence that
will keep you in its grip from start to finish (which is some compliment
given its app. two and a half hours playing time), mainly thanks to the
excellent cast of actors who bring Greig's powerful characters to life,
amidst Fiona Watt's beautiful set and Gavin Marwick's evocative music.
Praises for acting all round are due, but particularly watch for Laurence
Mitchell's mesmeric performance as Darwin-crazed Robert.
There is everything in this play that constitutes inspired theatre viewing
- poetic language, gripping storyline, well- rounded characters, sex,
violence, life and death, beauty and corruption beyond every desire. Philip
Howard's and Helene-Marie O'Malley's direction is suitably unobtrusive,
but lacks the kind of passion required when transposing Greig's writing
on stage. This is yet another proof that otherwise reliable Howard can
find himself slightly at loss when dealing with intricate poetic texts
(remember his treatment of Sue Glover's The Shetland Saga?).
Still, there is something indestructible about Greig's vigour and talent,
and the chemistry between the actors oozing from the stage that makes
this into an entertaining and enjoyable "must see" theatre event.
© Ksenija Horvat 29 April 2003 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
2003 Cats Awards Full
Details
A review
when seen at the premiere in 2002.
Cast: Robert Carr - Kirk/Captain, Lesley Hart
- Ellen, Sam Heughan - John, Laurence Mitchell- Robert.
2003 Touring Dates for Traverse Theatre's Production
of Outlying Islands.
9 - 13 Apr in Canada Toronto World Stage Festival
23 Apr - 10 May at Edinburgh Traverse Theatre 0131 228 1404
13 May - 17 May at Glasgow Citizens' Theatre 0141 429 0022
20 May - 21 May at Kirkcaldy Adam Smith Theatre 01592 412929
27 May - 29 May at Salisbury Festival 01722 320 333
3 June - 4 June at Inverness Eden Court Theatre 01463 234 234
5 June - 5 July in Scottish Highland tour - contact Traverse for details
- the final week in Shetland.
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