31 May 2014 (released)
06 June 2014
In this, a tale of two cities (or one city and one archipelago to be precise), Edinburgh Stage School director Julian Wickham once again proved that he has his finger on the pulse when it comes to dishing up plays that are as entertaining as they are thought-provoking. And topics rarely come hotter and more thought-provoking than the forthcoming vote for Scottish INDEPENDENCE.
Split into two one-act plays, the first play titled Orkney or Oxford? addresses a Scotland that opted for the ‘NO’ vote. Set in the rural Orkney Islands in 2018, we witness a family celebration turning sour thanks to different political opinions, prejudice, and class divide. Young Rachel Watson (Charlene Small) just got accepted to study at Oxford, and her proud and wealthy parents – Scottish oil tycoon Thomas Watson (Martyn McCormack) and wife Linda (Emma Gammack) look forward to a posh dinner in their house to celebrate the good news. Rachel, who soon will be turning 18, has invited boyfriend Bryson (Jason Smith) over to dinner as well, and it irritates master of the house Thomas from the outset. Not just because Jason is a common janitor and thus deemed utterly unsuitable for this cherished daughter, but Thomas isn’t happy whatsoever over the fact that Bryson is a member of the Orkney SPA (Scottish People’s Army) – a controversial and violent political party. Indulging in small talk at first, the atmosphere at the dinner table soon descends into a heated debate during which it becomes clear that the ever controlling and bullying Thomas looks upon Jason as little more than scum, whereas Jason accuses Thomas of having betrayed Scotland by having ‘yanks’ working for his oil company. Things aren’t helped by the fact that Jason only finds out over dinner about Rachel’s plan of moving to Oxford to study. As to be expected, things finally explode what with everyone shouting at each other, resulting in Thomas asking Jason to leave the house, Jason verbally attacking his host causing a minor heart attack in the process, wife Emma threatening Jason with, err… a butter knife, and Rachel losing it completely. Oh crumbs!
Martyn McCormack exceled as an uncompromising tycoon used to get his way, while Jason Smith struck the right balance between a disappointed Scottish nationalist and misguided and aggressive fanatic. On the female front, Emma Gammack sensibly portrayed a wife/mother trying to hold everything together while forced to take sides, however, it was Charlene Small’s Rachel who gradually and convincingly morphed from ‘daddy’s little girl’ into a young woman finally standing up for herself and fed up with constantly pleasing those around her.
The evening’s first half offered a disturbing and sordid tale with emotions laid bare and no happy ending in sight, nor much redemption. At times the action and atmosphere felt so heavy you could cut it with a knife (and certainly no butter knife!), then again this was precisely what director Wickham had intended: a play which left a bad aftertaste and possibly stirred a debate or two.
In contrast, the second play London’s Loves Labours Lost felt almost like an antidote and provided not only comic relief but also considerably less politics. Here, the setting is (as the title suggests) London but in a Britain in which Scotland has scored independence. We are introduced to the story’s three characters: camper-than-a-Christmas tree Scottish landlord Hamish (Euan McIntyre in a show-stealing performance), Estonian shopaholic and general minx Liina (Viktorija Jevic), and wannabe-poet Peter Miller (Steven Hogg). Leaving his rather dull existence in Scotland to pursue his dreams of becoming a successful poet, Peter ends up in London and replies to an ad for a one-bedroom flat. Enter fellow ‘expat’ Hamish, who makes his living in the capital as a landlord of many tricks and shades… not to mention outrageous behaviour. Having bamboozled poor Peter into accepting tenancy despite the fact that the place turns out to be a flat-share situation, and further ripping him off by charging him more rent then flat-mate Liina, Peter has little choice than to chew on the bone that ‘Uncle Hamish’ throws him – what with enormous exchange rates thanks to a new Scottish currency called the thistle. Pretty soon though, Peter wishes he’d rather slummed it out in a park then in his new place, as the love triangle from hell is about to stop him from getting much poetic word-smithery done. Flamboyant Hamish spends more time in Peter and Liina’s place than in his own flat downstairs… as it emerges, he seems rather smitten by the feisty Estonian and worries that Liina might lure Peter into her net in no time. He is right about that! “No hanky panky under my roof” exclaims a hysteric Hamish with wild gestures and facial expressions. Meanwhile, an increasingly flirtatious but obviously somewhat unhinged Liina demands that Peter bring no female companion back home, as she wants him all to herself – provoking the wrath of Hamish to everyone’s amusement.
Viktorija Levic had great fun manipulating the male of the species, while Steven Hogg believably portrayed the hapless chap caught up in all the domestic chaos. Euan McIntyre’s antics and over the top witty remarks proved to be a hit with the audience. This second play had little to offer in terms of political stance, but turned out to be a crowd-pleaser nonetheless.
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