Playing From The Heart
Playwright - Charles Way
Director - Vicky Ireland
Designer - Ruth Finn
Lighting Designer - Jim Simmons
Choreographer - Arlette George
Company - Polka Theatre for Children / Royal Lyceum Theatre,
Dates - 1 - 23 June touring
Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, Glasgow, Aberdeen Shetland, and Inverness
Play lasts 1 hrs and 50 mins with an interval
Reviewer - Brett Sheffield
Playing from the Heart tells the story of Evelyn Glennie,
one of the world's leading percussionists, who gradually lost her hearing
as a child and developed "ears on the inside". Tracing her path through
childhood to eventual success, it is both emotional and amusing, as
it touches on many aspects of growing up that most of us are able to
identify with.
Louise Bolton as Evelyn, with percussionist Neil Findlay work
together to create an Evelyn for our eyes and ears. Finlay's playing
of the percussion instruments and Bolton's acting thrillingly
and seamlessly integrate actions with live sound. Lesley Stone
and Stuart McGugan, as Evelyn's parents, and James Livingstone
and Douglas Irvine as her two brothers Colin and Rodger clearly
show the family's closeness. These four actors perform all the other
parts, look out for Floss the dog, the press hacks and their editor
and the wonderfully theatrically dispatched careers advisor!
The musical structure of the play - also emphasised by recurring phases
and actions - brings the audience close to the characters, so by the
intermission you know Evelyn, her family and music teacher well. Sound
and lighting work skilfully - the live percussion and background effects
easily moving together, as the lighting too steers you through the action.
The North-East Scottish accents are an additional musical delight to
the ear, capping a very enjoyable production.
© Brett Sheffield 1 June 2001
The Editor adds - The only disappointment is the curtain call done to a Scottish dance tune destroying the deserved spontaneous applause with clapping in time - a big mistake.
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