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The
Edinburgh Fringe
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Fringe 2009 Reviews (104)The Chronicles of Long Kesh
The arts in Northern Ireland are doing much to help heal old wounds and bring the community together. Against this backdrop Martyn Lynch's magnificent new play is a beacon. The Chronicles of Long Kesh tells the troubled history of the infamous Maze Prison from the perspective of loyalists, republicans and prison officers. Its real triumph is that, despite its grim historical context of internment, riots, hunger strikes and a community ripped in two, Lynch succeeds in humanizing the individuals on both sides of the political divide. Hugely entertaining and deeply affecting, a six-strong cast brings Lynch's text to life: a remarkable ensemble without a weak link. This is a play with a powerful punch, not least because it manages to bring humour to decades of pain. And it's a timely production - Lynch himself points out that it could not have been staged ten or fifteen years ago. "The Long Kesh game is over and it's now time to report what happened. It's now safe, I think, to report what happened." The Chronicles of Long Kesh is a significant play and a storming production with a remarkable cast, richly deserving a London transfer. Allison Vale Foursome Foursome is a study in love and friendship, loss and bereavement. First staged as part of Liverpool’s 2008 European Capital of Culture programme, this is a simple tale charting two love affairs from first blossoming until a tragedy leaves both couples ripped apart. Although the play says nothing new about love or loss, solid performances from a cast of four make it an entertaining and gently moving piece. Allison Vale Miller
In these troubled times, where the family comes in many guises, Miller harks back to the traditional family values of a bygone age, telling the story of a father who was very much a constant and positive presence in his son’s life. From the football terraces to the living room, the play shows how Miller came to shape his son into the man who opens the play with an emotional and affectionate eulogy at his father’s funeral. Text, performance and direction are all basically sound, albeit lacking lustre, so that although this isn’t the most memorable of theatre, it is nonetheless a moving and uplifting tale. Allison Vale The World is Too Much - The
Basement Flat The Basement Flat is a 20 minute long, dystopian chiller. The two-hander starts calmly enough in the home of Fiona and Stephen, a genteel but impecunious couple played by Cora Bissett and Matthew Pidgeon. Apart from the finances, there are only two minor blights on their lives, an absent daughter, Susan and the house owner, who lives above them and seems unnecessarily protective. However, as the story unfolds, we begin to see that this normal town is not quite right. Feral children, including Susan, are running wild and terrorising the neighbours, while shotguns and security fencing have become de rigueur. This is a small piece but works dramatically and could easily be the starting point for something full-scale. Philip Fisher
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