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| Edinburgh : A&E : Theatre: Reviews |
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Theatre listings > The Straits
- Tour. Before a full Traverse auditorium, Paines Plough company brings again Gregory Burke's new play The Straits, first seen here with a largely different cast in the 2004 Fringe. Burke has become something of a hot property after a great success of Gagarin Way, and his new play has been eagerly expected by many. Not the one to shy away from controversial issues, he has chosen another sensitive topic to chew on - the Falklands war - in the play that won him the Pearson Bursary award for Best Play in 2003. There is something unsettling about making theatre about war. Usually some time for reflection needs to pass, dust must settle and dogs must be left to lie before one can tackle it in a weighty manner. Recent war with Iraq opened unhealed wounds for many who lost their dearest in the Falklands war. The memory of those loved ones still lingers in the air on the Remembrance Day alongside the memories of those who gave their lives in the two world wars. It is the memory that must not be trivialised, whatever one's political or ethical views may be. In this sense, The Straits is an opportunity lost. It was written to appeal to younger audiences with the language and attitude to go with it, but while this has worked for Stel Pavlou in The 51st State (2001) it fails to fly on this occasion. One of the reasons for this might be that while Pavlou found the right register for his genre, Burke was less successful in determining what his genre was supposed to be in the first place. The script tries to be too many things, from coming of age tragicomedy to war drama (or rather anti-war in Tiffany's interpretation). If the futility of the war was the main message of this production, then it should have stuck to minimum text and a few Tiffany's add-ons (such as an effective ending), which would have made a stronger point and a much shorter production, and if its main focus was to show the lives of bigotted and arrogant sons and daughters of British Forces in Gibraltar it should have been more balanced in its portrayal of the historio-political setting at hand. John Tiffany's resourceful direction ploughs through the script confidently, making the most out of what is there, and the cast of young actors must be applauded for their dedication and talent. James Marchant is a genuine scene stealer as hot-headed Doink (the only actor from the original cast), while Freddy White and Darren McNicholl shine as Doink's shy sidekick Jock and insecure minion Darren respectively. In many ways, Alice O'Connell has had the most difficult task, since hers is the least fleshed out of the four characters, and she turns in a delightfully sassy performance as Darren's 'slag' sister Tracy. Neil Warmington creates a beautifully symbolic set which is as multimeaningful
as it is open for the actors to come and play, and the production's atmosphere
is intensified by Cormac O'Connor's powerful score (and clever choice
of music numbers), and Natasha Chivers' spot-on lighting. However, the
real star of this show is Steven Hoggett, the co-founder of Frantic Assembly
and movement devisor par excellance, who breaths in freshness and excitement
with his choreography. Watching the introductory movement routine to this
show will leave one wishing that they cut out the text and just went for
it. Note on Paines Plough - Paines Plough is considered by many as 'new writing
powerhouse'. Funded by the Arts Council of England their work is dedicated
to seeking, encouraging, developing, supporting and producing new writers,
touring a minimum fo two new plays a year throughout the UK and presenting
regular rehearsed readings by writers with varying levels of experience.
John Tiffany has been Associate Director at Paines Plough since 2001 and
has received Herald Angel Award for Directing Excellence for The Straits. The Straits Tour Schedule 2004 Theatre listings >
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