McAdam’s Torment is a new play by a young Irish writer, Audrey Devereux, which is loosely based on the legend of Sawney Beane, the notorious bandit chief of the Ayrshire Coast, and which is firmly rooted in the tradition of Gothic horror.
The story concerns John McAdam, a respectable middle-aged lawyer, who travels on business to a remote, seemingly peaceful Scottish coastal area during the 17th Century. When his manservant mysteriously disappears, McAdam is fired by an obsessive need to find out what happened and his subsequent investigations reveal a climate of malevolence and fear. Ultimately he makes a horrific discovery that will haunt him for the rest of his days. Read more …
McAdam’s Torment is a chilling and atmospheric tale that will take an audience on a deliciously dark descent into the realm of unspeakable horror.
You can’t help but find yourself drawn into a tale that, admittedly, could do with a bit more theatrical oomph.
With both leading actor and violin heavily miked, the show becomes an interesting duet of music and language, punctuated by the sharp or laboured sound of human breath; and although Devereux’s play finally adds little to our knowledge of this notorious tale, it tells it well, and with commendable style.
A Play, a Pie and a Pint, Glasgow from Monday October 24, 2011, until Saturday October 29, 2011. More info: http://playpiepint.com
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