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Theatre listings > Boiling A Frog. - Tour & World Premiere. Adapter - Christopher Deans adaptated from Christopher Brookmyre's novel of the same name. Director - Lorenzo Mele . Set Designer - Becky Minto. Lighting Designer - Dave Shea. Composer - Robert Burlin. Company - 7:84 Theatre Company . Cast - here . 2003 Tour Dates and Times - here . Seen to review at Paisley Arts Centre on 5 February 2005. Run Time - 2 hours 20 mins including one interval. Reviewer - Thelma Good. More bite in the novel. Christopher Brookmyre's novel has journalist Jack Parlabane finding himself in jail and we find out what put Parlabane there as well as what happens afterwards. Parlabane's been investigating various people including MSPs, the Catholic Church and the PR hired by that church, Ian Beadie. It's a tale set in the time of the first Scottish Parliament for nearly 300 years and it makes you laugh, keeps you reading and has you wondering how much former journalist Brookmyre's fiction could have factual parallels. Christopher Deans' adaptation shifts the central character to the PR who collects information about people just in case it comes in handy. Sharp suited Stewart Porter attractively exudes Beadie's increasingly shocking power, his ghastly actions as a result totally plausible. Gary McInnes struggles with Dean's sidelining of Parlabane. As staged and acted, he comes across as a spineless, nervy guy, you get no sense that this is a capable journo who has already exposed some of the slimy underside of Scotland. Apart from Porter and McInnes the rest of the cast have multiple roles. Kate Dick's weedy Fooaltiyeman with his whiny, wheedling voice is instantly recognisable. Linda McLaughlin as Elspeth Doyle is all to human as the MSP overlooked as others rush on dropping principles, who finds she also has her price. With seven and six roles a piece, Robbie Jack's and Ross Stenhouse's characters include the strong Cardinal who has his own way of finding out secrets and the weak Father Shelley. Staging novels means you have to ditch subplots and characters, and even tell the story differently. Dean has retain much of Brookmyer's gutsy, comic dialogue and at times, but not as often as the novelist's satirical text, it is un-nervingly funny. It's an insight into our new devolved land where, as in the rest of Britain and the world, behind the scenes PRs are used to spin the public person out of any scandal aided by the increasing demise of investigative, rigorous journalists for the puff and angle turners. The novel characters' actions largely arise through their back stories, the adaptation at times gets lost in the details coupled with the noisy set and overly detailed prop changes for many small scenes dilute the onward thrust. It strongly suggests a film or TV drama would be better forms for this story. If you enjoyed the novel, this production lesser bite may annoy, newcomers encountering this then the original, with all the rich detail novels more easily provide, will find their enjoyment of the characters more amply rewarded. © Thelma Good 5 February 2004 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com Christopher Brookmeyer's novels are published by Abacus . Cast: Stewart Porter - Beadie, Gary McInnes - Parlabane, Kate Dickie - Fooaltiyeman, Sarah & Walter, Linda McLaughlin - Elspeth Doyle, Christis, Jenny & Guard 2, Robbie Jack - Peter Logan, Cardinal Doollan, Ross Quinn, David Sanderson, Photographer, Sales Rep & Technician and Ross Stenhouse - Judge, Teddy Graham, Mike Briggs, Father Shelley, Kevin & Guard 1. 2005 Tour Details of 7:84 Theatre Company's production of Boiling A Frog. Tour begins 3 - 5 Feb at Paisley Paisley Arts Centre. 8 Feb at Stirling Macrobert. 9 - 12 Feb aslo Sat mat at Dundee Dundee Rep. 15 Feb at Aberdeen The Lemon Tree . 17 Feb at Inverness Eden Court. 19 Feb at Ullapool MacPhail Centre . 23 Feb at Findhorn Universal Hall. 24 Feb at Ballachuilish Ballachuilish Village Hall . 26 Feb at Dumfries Theatre Royal. 1 March at South Queensferry Rosebery Hall. 2 March at Birnam Birnam Institute. 4 March at Melrose The Wynd . 5 March at Kilmarnock Palace Theatre. 8 March at Casltemilk Community Centre. 10 March at Livingston Howden Park Centre. 11 March at Cumbernauld Cumbernauld Theatre. 12 March at Dunfermline Carnegie Hall. 15 March at Edinburgh Craigour Park Primary School. 16 March at St Andrews The Byre Theatre. 17 & 18 March Musselburgh Brunton Theatre. 23 - 26 March also Sat mat at Edinburgh Traverse Theatre. 29 March - 2 April at Glasgow The Tron Theatre. 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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