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Markings - Attic Theatre Co Production. Edward - Simon Muller, Annie - Jennie Lee. © photographer 2004

Dominic Francis's play intercuts between a newly married couple Cecil and Beattie in the years 1942 and later 1945 and their daughter Annie and one of her sons Edward as they spend a visit to the area of Morecambe Bay after Beattie's death in 2004. gradually we build up a picture of these three generations and what they have past on to each other, hope, aspirations and the damage of not recognising yourself or your nearest and dearest as well as you might.

For some the layering of the three times and the unseen characters such as Jamie, who at first we think is dead but then find is the son Annie is estranged from, leads into too many tangles and uncertainties to find a clear way through to the story. Others will appreciate the need to play close attention to what is unspoken or merely hinted at.

Janet Bird's set contains layers of floors cut to reveal the patterned lino and suggests the hills round in the present day Morecambe Sands, Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland in 1942 and in around Grange across the bay from Morecambe in 1945. Behind the actors is a gauze which suggest the inlets and sand banks and the sky above.

The central agonized figure is Edward. He has broken down under what he knows about himself but hasn't found a way to tell his mother or the world. Find his grandfather's diaries and then loosing the expensive shoes he was given by a friend to the quick sands of the Bay it's his painful fragile journey that touches, beautifully conveyed by Simon Muller. Jenny Lee's Annie faffing over uneaten sandwiches and never seeing real need provides an effective counterpoint. The young married couple Dean Ashton's Cecil love of learning and encounters in dark woods and Ruth Gibson's Beattie who knows things are failing between them but can't prevent it lets us see the strands their descendants inherit.

Markings' many layered text and times doesn't fully guide us through, particularly in the first half, but the fine characterisations from all the cast and Tamara Harvey's direction gives nearly enough thrust to keep us watching.
© Thelma Good 19 February 2004. - Published on EdinburghGuide.com

Cast: Cecil - Dean Ashton, Edward - Simon Muller, Annie - Jennie Lee and Beattie - Ruth Gibson.

2004 Tour Details of Attic Theatre's production of Markings .
Tour begins
11 - 14 Feb at 7:30pm Sat mat 2:30pm London Wimbledon Studio Theatre
19 - 21 Feb at 8pm Sat mat 2:30pm Edinburgh Traverse Theatre 0131 228 1404.
1 - 20 March at 7:30pm also Mat 20 March at 3pm London Southwark Playhouse 020 620 3494.
Tour continues after break 12 May to 12 June details from Attic Theatre Shortly.
Tour ends.

Theatre Editor, Thelma Good's e-mail is thelma@edinburghguide.com

Although every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in these pages, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions.

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