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Tam O' Shanter
- Tour & World Premiere.
Devised & Director - Andy Arnold.
Set Designer & Constuctor - Moray Berishan.
Costume Designer & Constuctor - Anna Cocciadiferro..
Lighting Designer - Bob Pringle.
Musician - John Somerville.
Company - Arches Theatre
Company .
Cast - here .
2003 Tour Dates and Times - here .
Seen to review at The Arches on the 21 May 2003.
Run Time - 1 hours.
Reviewer - Thelma Good.
Meanders dilute astonishing Troll-clowns.
At the beginning there's a mist on the stage where three mugs wait for
ale, four characters' voices in chorus speak rhymes as the moon that moves
on the set's translucent screen, a tiny lit screen is carried in, the
bittyiness is unfortunately part of the production's approach.
When the light comes up on the four actors, gie queer cherls they are.
White faced and oddly shaped, the troll-clowns are astonishing apparitions.
In chorus they speak the Scottish Bard's verses, some we know well, some
less often heard, about writing, women, drink and all of life. Once they've
given us a measure each of good whisky to quaff, we're in a good humour
even though the found louse, from "Tae A Louse" gets flicked
from one to another member of the audience!
Interspersed through the hour long entertainment the cast sing Burns'
songs, including a beautifully rendered Ae Fond Kiss. Accordionist John
Somerville not only accompanies the songs but musically enlivens the scenes,
in effect his live playing becomes a fifth cast member.
It takes a bit of a time for the central story to appear, the characters
daundering round, being couthy and awfie nappy, as in the poem. The slow
meandery approach dilutes and detracts from the production's more successful
elements.
When it does get going, after the jolly riotous inn scene, Tam rides off
and the set transforms into Old Alloway Kirk. Johnny McKnight is
Tam jogging home till he realises some kind of entertainment is going
on there. The other three of the cast turn shockingly into the ghastly
grotesques celebrating dark things inside the ruins. The production's
clownish air carries into disquieting ghouls and ghosties, their commedia
d'arte masks giving a sinister feel.
It's a pity Director and deviser Andy Arnold didn't include another narrative
poem or two of Burns to flesh out the hour. At the moment although robustly
and engagingly sung and performed, there isn't enough content or structure
in this dramatisation of a few of Burns' well known works.
© Thelma Good 21 May 2003. - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
Cast: Perfomers - Julie Brown, Michelle Gallacher,
Johnny McKnight, Ross Stenhouse and Musician - John Sommerville.
2003 Tour Details of The Arches Theatre's production
of Tam O' Shanter.
Tour begins.
8 - 9 May at Kilmarnock Dick Insitute 01292 678100.
10 - 11 May at Ayr Borderline Theatre 01292 678100.
12 May at Dumfries Burns Film Theatre 01387 264808.
14 May at Castle Douglas Lochside Theatre 01556 504506.
16 - 17 May at Melrose The Wynd Theatre 01896 823854.
20 -22 May & 24 May at 8pm at Glasgow The Arches
book online.
27 May on Skye Gaelic College 01471 888000.
28 May at Ullapool The Ceilidh Place 01854 612103.
30 May at Thurso Mill Theatre 01847 896901.
31 May at Aberdeen Lemon Tree 01224 642230.
3 - 7 June at 7:30pm at Glasgow The Arches book
online.
Tour ends
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