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Review from 2002 Edinburgh
Fringe
Play o the Wather from Nutshell Theatre
Company.
Seen at Fringe at Smirnoff Underbelly (Venue 61 )
Reviewer Thelma Good
Magical, life engaging version.
You think you're in for a promenade performance but worry not, as after
a first wee whiley, tho the Scots flies oot o the acotrs' gobs, yer bum'll
be fair seated by the cast on a stool or a deckchair ( I recommend the
latter). John Heywood wrote this play in the time of Henry the VIII of
England, Edward Stiven's translation is lively muscular Scots, and director
Kate Nelson has got a cast likewise, their skills well matched to her
own.
John Austin, exceedingly, some would say ower, tall, is Jupiter
the God who realising the mortals would like something done aboot the
wather, selects a man to canvass everyone's opinion in Scotland, he makes
a striking young God experimenting how to relate to man.. Stephen Docherty
is the canvasser Merry Courant and he fills this clownlike master of ceremonies
with a gallus Scottish charm, making the hale thing well hingit together.
Lynne MacCallum's a fine earthy keeper and latter wind miller,
Caroline MacKellar is the water miller while Victoria Balnaves
is the Merchant looking to make a good deal, Mary Gapinski
is a plums in mouth Scottish Laird, and frae the clamjamfry, a Scots speaking
backgreen launderer with pegs and pinny.
There are modern touches to the ancient original, in the characters as
well as references, Eileen Buresh is the smile-struck weather girl
come rain or shine and also doubles as the lusious dame, and the boy,
Colin Ferrie is the skate boarding youth the only one really awed
by Jupiter's persence. They all want weather of different varities, only
the boy seems to have the catholic taste living in Scotland demands, with
its snow in Summer.
Play o the Wather has music and songs and rumbunctious attacking
style which recalls the best of 7.84 in McGrath's time with a less hectoring
message , it's all the more successful for that. As the cast sing from
under their umbrellas about Global Warming, this magical, life engaging
version of a play, so clearly made for the people and of the people, is
filled with commitment well deliver to the audeince.
A production which for its simple versatile staging and fun costuming
( Lucinda Meredith), excellent lighting (Simon Wilkinson), endearing style
and acute direction deserves to live beyond this Fringe. It's a more than
worthy first production from Kate Nelson's newly created company which
is, on this evidence, full of promise.
© Thelma Good, 23 August 2002 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
Company - Nutshell
Want to look at more reviews for Edinburgh August Festivals go here.
Nutshell's 2003 Production Details of THE PLAY O' THE WATHER Written by
John Heywood Translated by Edwin Stiven.
Directed by Kate Nelson Design by Lucinda Meredith Lighting Design by
Simon Wilkinson
2003 CAST: Members of the original cast - Victoria
Balnaves, Eileen Buresh, Colin Ferrie, Mary Gapinski, Lynne McCallum,
Caroline McKellar - will be joined by Douglas Russell, Harry Ward in place
of John Austin and Stephen Docherty.
Review
of 2003 Touring with slightly different cast
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