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| Edinburgh : A&E : Theatre: Reviews |
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Pain And Pleasure -
from the stories and life of Guy de Maupassant.
He wrote about men and women at a time when women, very skilled in manipulating their "inferior" state, were just beginning to reach out very occasionally to use the lash of liberation to get men into line. A century and more later they still are modern in their telling and timeless in their sharpness, containing not only the chill of our difficult human predicament but also frequent sensual charm and wit. John Kazek's Guy de Maupassant is attractive almost arrogant in his youth, later suave and hard to resist in his fashionable fame. You know he was that rare thing an ex-lover who still made his ex-partners tingle. In a performance of considerable mastery Kazek later causes your heart to ache for his brilliant creative Maupassant afflicted by failing sight and mind while only in in his late thirties. In the strong arms of Mark Thomson's adaptation we are waltzed between the writer's life and eight of Maupassant's tightly written, sharp gems with their acute understanding of human life particularly of the lusts and loves that uplift and bedevil it. Lorna McDevitt is luscious and fabulously assertive in her stays, playing all the women - Maupassant's female characters, family members and some of his many satisfied women friends. For the equivalent male roles including fellow French men of letters Daudet, Zola and Flaubert, Stephen Cavanagh is a youthful choice but a successful one. Directed so we are never inadvertently confused between fiction and fact Thomson enables an early surprise to set up a several further ones, including a really thrilling coup de theatre. Christmas is a time for treats - Pleasure And Pain is a skilfully achieved theatrical one from all involved including the technical and design teams. Take a lover, or ex, or friend or treat yourself, to see Maupassant's sensual stories framed dramatically as he suggests by our species' struggle - for masters or mistresses we are also slaves. PS. In case Father Christmas or his elf friends are listening. On my Christmas list for new plays and theatrical experiences in elsewhere in Scotland is a stage like the Stalls Studio in Edinburgh or Dundee. For Glasgow and the Citizens is fortunate indeed to have this strongly theatrical wee space. © Thelma Good 27 November 2002. - Published on EdinburghGuide.com The Award For Best Male Performance went to John Kazek as Guy de Maupassant in Pleasure and Pain, by Mark Thomson and directed by him, at the Glasgow Citizens. Mark Thomson is taking over from Kenny Ireland as Artistic Director for Royal Lyceum Theatre Company. He has just annouced their 2003 - 2004 season and will be directing their first production in the season Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in September. 2003 Cats Awards Full Details. Cast of Pleasure And Pain November 2002 Guy de Maupassant - John Kazek Actor - Stephen Cavanagh Actor - Lorna McDevitt As I found when I rushed off to get a replacement copy, (some lightfingered story lover has my previous copy), there are several inexpensive collections of Maupassant's stories translated into English available in bookshops. If you can't get to see the show do try the stories.
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