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| Edinburgh : A&E : Theatre : Reviews |
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Theatre listings > 'e Polish Quine Review By Bill
Dunlop Toward the end of the nineteenth century, a number of Scots farmers emigrated to Poland to manage and improve the farms owned by Polish aristocrats. In the early twenty first century, a number of British farmers are migrating to Poland in the hope of a better agricultural climate (pun intentional) In between, of course, numerous Poles have settled in the British Isles, both in the aftermath of World War Two and now. The history lesson has a bearing on Henry Adam's play, ''e Polish Quine',
set somewhere in the Mearns (between Angus and Aberdeen) immediately after
the Second World War. Dealing with disappointment looms large in this play - David's parents
(Hamish Wilson and Anne Kidd) have sacrificed to give him an education
only for him to return to the farm, and to take up with a Polish 'quine'.
The problem is that both text and sub-texts all but collapse under the
layered richness of the Doric dialogue. Kate's fiancée encounters
Anna early in the Even in its livelier moments, 'e Polish Quine has a ponderous feel, and surprisingly for a play set on a farm, we have no sense of time really passing, of the seasons changing, the remorseless passage of nature and the need to plant and harvest in spite of weather conditions, human or other considerations. Doric sayings are rooted in harsh, everyday realities, belied in the lyricism of Henry Adams' script. A strong cast makes the very best of the opportunities they are given while simple and effective setting allows the action to flow. A considerable collection from the ballad and song tradition of North East Scotland is used to punctuate the action, as are several Polish folk songs. The reasons for their use in specific scenes is not, however, always clear. Nonetheless, there's something very heartfelt trying to express itself at the core of Henry Adams' play; unfortunately on the night seen, it appeared to be still struggling to be heard. |
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