| |
Theatre listings >
Theatre Index >>
Without A Trace -
Tour and European Premiere
Playwright - Carol K Mack
Director - Gerda Stevenson
Designer - Richard Aylwin
Lighting Designer - Gerry Jenkinson
Composer - Dee Isaacs
Music Director - Hilary Brooks
Company - Sounds of Progress
Venues & Dates - see end of review
Seen to review at Tron Theatre
Run Time - 2 hours 13 mins including 15 mins interval
Reviewer - Thelma Good
Bitty structure exacerbated
Sink without a trace isn't what this play does, indeed the flaws of the
play increased by the production's ones may leave annoying scars with
some people. This Company was formed to ensure that differently abled
performers aren't marginalised. Oddly the Sign Language Interpreter was
stuck over at the side rendering it impossible to see the play and the
intrepreter together, and this isn't the only instance of how the production
as well as the play lacks a real understanding of what it is to live in
a world differently percieved.
Without A Trace is based on Maria Theresa Paradies who could play
the piano like a virtuoso even though she became blind as young child.
After she was subjected to various unsuccessful attempts to restore her
sight, Mesmer cured her but she lost the ability to play. Nowadays doctors
would say it was a psychological blindness. Mack's play purports to explore
the way we still try to fix so called imperfections and yet still are
no nearer to understanding creativity. It's not a well structured play,
half heartedly it tries to expose the core of the story including the
world's often disastrous"good" intentions towards the differently
abled. By sticking so closely to the true story Mack hinders its dramatic
possibilities. Ironic when she aimed to celebrate the metaphorical force
of creativity which often illuminates more than raw, actual incidents
and speeches.
The play's bitty structure is exacerbated by the musical performers having
to move into position before each of the production's musical interludes
and over punctuating the action. With a piano and musicians as well as
the sign language interpreters to accommodate on stage in addition to
the professional actors and the vast mirror, the director never works
out a coherent feel for the production. Most unfortunately the differently
abled aspects of the production are visually marginalised to the sides.
I can understand why the subject matter attracted this company but the
play doesn't even lend itself to the strengths of this company, whose
stated aim is to integrate. I left scared again by the sharp blade of
knowing that it is seems hard for the able to reflect or illuminate our
differently abled lives.
© Thelma Good 17 September 2002. - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
Review of pervious Sound of Progress show toured in 2001
A
Wee Bit of How Do You Do
Sounds of Progress's production of Without A Trace
Tour Starts
17 - 21 September at 8pm Glasgow Tron Theatre, 0141 552
4267
25 and 26 Sept at 8pm Edinburgh Traverse Theatre 0131
228 1404 or online at www.traverse.co.uk
27 September at 7.30pm Dumfries Theatre Royal, 01387
247780
28 September at 7.30pm Stirling Tolbooth 01786 274 000
3 October at 7.30pm Aberdeen Lemon Tree 01224 42230
4 and 5 October at 7.30pm East Kilbride Village Theatre
01355 248 669
Tour Ends
Theatre listings >>
Theatre Index >>
|
|
