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Theatre listings > Riddance. - Tour. Premiered by Paines Plough at Traverse Edinburgh at the 1999 Fringe. Playwright - Linda McLean. Director - Neil McKinven. Designer - Graham Baird. Lighting Designer - Paul Sorley. Sound Designer - Mario Oliveira. Company - Spartaki Theatre Company. Cast - here . 2004 Tour Dates and Times - here . Seen to review at Oran Mor Glasgow on 29 November 2004. Run Time - 1 hour 15 minutes (no interval). Reviewer - Marisa Farrell. Emotive if slightly careless revival.
Mark Kane’s effective portrayal of Kenny, an obsessive-compulsive clean freak, is undercut by the poorly designed stage set. In a disjointed, shabby and not altogether sanguine lounge, Kane struggles to convince the audience of his character’s desperate need to remove the detritus of his blighted past, in an attempt to lead a peaceful and contented existence. The production was burdened by a serious technical hitch when the lights cut out twice during one of the key moments of the script, although importantly, the actors dealt admirably with the interruptions. Paul Cunningham, playing Frank, led some quick improvisation that set the audience at ease and, in actuality, allowed his own performance to loosen up and improve during the remainder of the play. Cunningham plays a grown-up Glasgow lad who has been wronged by, but is retaliating against, his own violent home-life. Contorted facial expressions and bursting tirades contradict perfectly his altogether more genial nature and captures exactly Frank’s hatred of the aggression he has endured and, at times, cannot help perpetuating himself. However, his powerful acting is occasionally let down by moves which, at times, obstructs one half of the auditorium from seeing Frank’s face. This is an emotive if slightly careless production, but a promising enough directorial debut from Neil McKinven, and is indeed worth a watch. If you can’t make the show’s three-day run at Oran Mor, then it moves to Edinburgh from December 3rd, playing at three venues including the Traverse Theatre. ©Marisa Farrell 29 November 2004 – Published on EdinburghGuide.com. Cast:Clare – Carolyn Calder. Frank – Paul Cunningham. Kenny – Mark Kane. Boy upstairs – Daniel Jonathon. Woman upstairs/Kenny’s Mother – Karen Douglas. Man upstairs – Neil McKinven. 2004 Tour Details of Spartaki Theatre's production of Riddance. Tour begins 16 (preview) & 18 - 20 Nov at 7:30pm Glasgow Tramway 0845 330 3501. 29 & 30 Nov & 1 Dec at Glasgow Oran Mor 0141 357 6200. 8 - 11Dec at at 7:30pm Edinburgh Traverse Theatre 0131 228 1404. 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. Theatre listings >
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