Michael Cox reviews Educating Ronnie, The Day the Sky Turned Black, Deborah Frances-White: Cult Following and Mr Carmen.
A bit of an international theme for today's crop of shows.
Part of Made in Scotland's 2012 season, Educating Ronnie (***) is a touching true story about a young Brit who becomes the educational benefactor of an African teenager. Being a student himself, paying the monthly donation becomes evermore difficult, and interesting questions are raised over whether his act of charity is wise.
It's a very good one-man show, mixing humour with pathos and cleverly using the actual text messages that Ronnie had sent, which adds a humane component. If there is a flaw, it is in the fact the piece feels like its missing a third act. The set-up is quickly and intriguingly established and Joe Douglas' years of sending money he himself could have used to a young man he barely knew is well presented, but the end feels a bit brief. Interesting questions, about the true nature of charity and the possible abuse of financial aid, are glossed over rather than examined.
Still, Douglas' solo show is a winner. And if you do see it, make sure you look at the pictures lying out on the table afterwards--they successfully manage to ground the production further into reality.
I have to confess that I had forgotten about the horrendous fires that ravaged Australia in 2009, but The Day the Sky Turned Black (***) serves as a personal and emotional reminder of what has become known as the Black Saturday bush fires of 2009. Written and performed by Ali Kennedy-Scott, the play looks at the lives of five people affected by the fires.
In many ways, the strengths of the production are also it's weaknesses. Kennedy-Scott is a very good writer and performer, and the five characters she takes on are all interesting and full of insightful things that are riveting to listen to. However, she chooses to break these monologues up, and every time she changes character there is a light, sound and costume change. These changes not only slow down the pace of the production but also get in the way of each person's tale. Perhaps performing each monologue individually with an epilogue involving all five would have worked better.
As it is, the play is a very moving production that has a great performance by Kennedy-Scott and is worth seeing, even if its start/stop shifts get in the way.
Part stand-up, part confessional, all interesting, Deborah Frances-White: Cult Following (****) is a look at the performer's youth spent as a Jehovah's Witness. Frances-White combines true stories of her time knocking on doors with a comedic look at the inner runnings of the religion's beliefs and foundations.
And it is all very fascinating. Most of her stories from her past are actually quite dramatic, so juxtaposing these tales with her sharp commentary offers a nice see-saw effect: just when it gets uncomfortable a good joke hits, and right when you think she's gone a bit far in her routine we return to a story that grounds everything. The result is a solid production that is as hilarious as it is insightful and manages to be much smarter than it appears on the surface.
I have absolutely no idea what Mr Carmen (***) is about. However, for productions like this, I think the important thing is not 'what' it's about but 'how' it's about. And on a 'how' note, AKHE's production is a triumph.
I think the best way to describe this is as a theatrical duel between two actors. They manipulate a rather impressive set, they paint, they interact with props, they...do pretty much any and everything an actor can do onstage, all of it with as much energy and commitment as you could wish from two performers. They are as animated and destructive as a Tom and Jerry cartoon, and like those two characters the actors here play an almost ferocious game of oneupmanship.
From a visual, and perhaps a directional, point of view it is mesmerising. However, there is absolutely no emotional context, and though the show clocks in at an hour, none of it seems essential. This could just as easily have been a museum piece that people walked in and out of whenever they got their fill.
For those who like the experimental or want to take a chance, seeing this production should be mandatory. Those who like character, plot and/or emotional journeys will probably want to sit this one out.
Educating Ronnie is at Assembly George Square. The Day the Sky Turned Black, Deborah Frances-White: Cult Following and Mr Carmen are at Assembly Roxy. Check programme or website for dates and times.
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