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The
Edinburgh Fringe
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Fringe 2002 Reviews (2)Outlying Islands As one might expect from such an accomplished and prolific playwright as David Greig, Outlying Islands is a richly symbolic, poetic play. It is set on an almost uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides in 1939. It combines a coming of age love story with the prefiguring of a world-wide conflagration. This is held together by analogy with the lives of a flock of rare, fork-tailed petrels. On both an individual and global basis, they reflect the lives of the four characters and their wider interests. Robert and Johnny are contrasting Cambridge-trained ornithologists, a little like Laurel and Hardy (or even Laurel and Laurel), who have been sent to the island by a mysterious ministry in London. The former played by Laurence Mitchell is rather didactic with modern views, Johnny is still little more than a schoolboy, in most ways. They are ostensibly there to study the birds but it soon becomes clear that something more sinister is happening. The cat escapes from the bag as the wonderfully grim, Kirk (Robert Carr). owner of the island, explains his mercenary desire to sell the island, which he regards as pagan, and all of its inhabitants to the ministerial devils, for his own enrichment. Ultimately, the only way of obtaining freedom for the island (and possibly the world) is the overthrow of the dictator and his replacement by his more benign and liberal niece, Ellen. There are numerous ideas flooding around all Greig plays and this is no exception. Morality is explored from many angles and is the primary theme. This is accompanied by portraits of four rather stereotypical characters. Ultimately, a slight lack of depth in some of the characterisation is overcome by both the love triangle that the three young people form and by the multi-layered symbolism of the birds. The play contains much of beauty. This extends through the language to Philip Howard's impeccable direction, the acting especially by Sam Heughan as the sensitive, repressed Johnny and Lesley Hart as the freed Ellen. Finally there is a superb set designed by Fiona Watt, combining a chunk of island with the smelly cave that the graduates are forced to call home. This play must be a hot tip for a Fringe First Award and might even compete for the overall Fringe First of Firsts Award. Philip Fisher Shut Eye Humour is a funny thing. Several people could not last the 80 minutes of Shut Eye while others could not stop laughing. The play is a meditation on sleep in every sense. It considers the failure to sleep, dreaming and the comatose state, amongst other matters. It is constructed like a dream with many jump cuts and much of its humour is physical rather than verbal. There are odd musical interludes and some dance-derived physical performances. The cast of six swap roles and gender at will and in many ways this is akin to a Hollywood musical of the forties without as many toe-tapping hit songs. In toto, form is the key as the subject matter is relatively thin. There are some genuinely funny moments but these tend to be rather few and far between. Philip Fisher Stitching In Yer Face theatre is designed to be shocking. If you don't like bad language and uncompromising characters who investigate sex and love from most angles, then don't go to see Anthony Neilson's latest play. If you have a strong stomach, this will prove to be one of the most rewarding experiences on the Fringe this year. It is very tightly written, well directed by the author, and features two very fine performances from his actors, Phil McKee and Selina Boyack. Stu and Abby are a relatively happy couple. However, they have a big decision to take when she falls pregnant. Their whole relationship and, indeed the ways in which men and woman do or don't interact, are brought into question. Neilson is a master in the art of demonstrating how communication between the sexes can break down. The issue of a potential child scares Stu as much as it pleases Abby. He doesn't want to lose a freedom that he doesn't really enjoy anyway. She feels that she may miss out forever if she doesn't have this baby. Their battle is graphically depicted with blood and guts everywhere. Soon the stakes are upped as Abby makes it clear that if she has an abortion, the relationship will end. This tale runs in parallel with a story of a student who prostitutes herself for fun as much as money. She has complete control over her client and even his seeming victories are Pyrrhic, as they result from her masochistic desires. It is not immediately clear how the two stories interact. These could be two parallel worlds or sets of characters. Alternatively, they could be Stu and Abby at a different time. The plot eventually moves to a very affecting ending that confirms the promise of Anthony Neilson and rewards the great efforts, both physical and mental of Phil McKee and Selina Boyack. This is experiential theatre at is best. You feel embarrassed to be in the living room with this couple as they fight and fantasise. This is another Traverse play that deserves to win a Fringe First and will transfer to the Bush in London after the Festival. Philip Fisher The Recruiting Officer Edward's Theatre Company is based at King Edward VI School in Louth, Lincolnshire. They have brought a classic comedy to the Fringe, this year. The Recruiting Officer is a tale of subterfuge and deception, containing an array of comic characters. While the acting of the young cast can be a little patchy, the production is enjoyable with some great comic moments. In particular, Graeme Ellis (playing two major parts as the doltish but willing and well-named, Bullock in addition to the scoundrel, Captain Brazen), is extremely funny. He is almost matched by Maxim Griffin as the seasoned Sergeant Kite, Nicola Greenhow as a sweetly sluttish Rose and Thomas Kohut who is far too young to convince as Plume but has good comic timing. In slightly more serious roles, Hannah Stratford, as the cross-dressing heroine Silvia, is excellent while Elly Tipping is suitably scheming as Melinda. Do not be put off by the youth of the cast. You will have fun if you spend an evening at The Recruiting Officer. Philip Fisher |
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