Michael Cox reviews a production that tackles difficult subject matters 'with grace and intelligence'.
Fern is a celebrant. She’s done her job hundreds of times and for different families and clients—giving voice to the dead who lie in their coffins while the grieving listen. She’s a civil celebrant—different from a ‘secular’ one, she tells us. And while we see her speak with clarity and enthusiasm, it is also clear the job is taking a toll. And that events from the past are catching up.
Amy Conway performs her own script, which in itself has a nice symmetry to the fact Catafalque is a play about making words work in a monologuing fashion. Perhaps the plot is a bit on the obvious side, but the issues raised are absolutely worthy of the performance given here. And as a performer, Conway is excellent. Personable and passionate, Fern is clearly gifted at a difficult job, and she is an interesting character worth spending time with.
Director Beth Morton has staged an effective production: the staging is simple yet effective, the action well-paced. And even if the ending is inevitable, it is nevertheless moving.
Catafalque might not be a simple watch, but it is an effective one. It delves into difficult territory but does so with grace and intelligence.
Catafalque has completed its run at Summerhall but tours to Beacon Arts Centre (August 15-17, 2024), Paisley Arts Centre (August 29-30, 2024) and Byre Theatre (September 7-8, 2024).
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