The second instalment of John Byrne’s much-loved Slab Boys trilogy. Read more …
Strutting adolescent double act Phil and Spanky have broken free of the confines of the A. F. Stobo & Co. Carpet Factory in Paisley and are off to the annual staff dance. Phil may have lost his job and been rejected by the Art School, but he can still dream of a life beyond the slab room.
John Byrne’s funny and poignant Slab Boys trilogy paints a vivid picture of the tough, rebellious, working-class culture of 1950s industrial Scotland. Following the hugely-popular production of The Slab Boys in 2015, the Citizens Theatre presents the next instalment in the era-defining trilogy in a new production directed by Caroline Paterson.
Like a dish that’s presented well but lacks seasoning, Cuttin’ a Rug looks great but tastes bland.
Successful sequels are difficult to achieve and when you look at any trilogy, the “middle” piece can often seem like the runt of the litter. That said, the Citizens team manages to blow up a storm in their new production of Cuttin’ a Rug, the second of John Byrne’s Slab Boys Trilogy.
If you are looking for two hours of black humour, then this is certainly a party worth attending.
Director Caroline Paterson has brought all the brio and energy into the first half, complete with sassy dance routines and flirting; only for it to dip into misanthropic misery in the second.
In Caroline Paterson's gallus and glamorous production it is the script that proves to be a tricky middle sibling.
Paterson’s production is all the more engaging for its snappy pace and deft choreography of a large cast, which responds with committed performances.
John Byrne writes not in prose but in poetry, developing and stylising Paisley working-class banter into a wonderful, baroque pattern of jest and allusion, longing, bathos and hilarity.
This, one suspects, is the kind of show the late John McGrath was thinking of when he talked about theatre being “a good night out”.
Caroline Paterson’s direction gives the play the tightness and drive it demands, and the playing of this ensemble leaves nothing to be desired. Lightness of touch combine with integrity and authority from all the actors deliver a production that is ultimately both delightful and insightful.
There is a real comedic fizz here, allied to real depth.
Caroline Paterson--Cuttin' a Rug
Cuttin' a Rug effectively captures Glaswegian working-class life in the late 1950s.
Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow from Wednesday February 8, 2017, until Saturday March 4, 2017. More info: www.citz.co.uk
King's Theatre, Edinburgh from Tuesday March 7, 2017, until Saturday March 11, 2017. More info: http://www.edtheatres.com/kings
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