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Fringe Online 2020

Isolation

National Theatre of Scotland

Genre: Fringe Online Theatre, Solo Performance

Venue: Scenes For Survival

Festival:


Low Down

A mother is in bed struggling to cope with the illness that has gripped her and deprived her of having her son. He is with his father and out of harm’s way. We follow her through the steps she has taken to recover, keep well and isolate. Interspersed there are images of cleansing and the metaphors of her state that are a highly effective series of images that heighten the sense of us with a woman who should be able to cope but is finding life a challenge. Then the day dawns that her son can return.

ope with the illness that has gripped her and deprived her of having her son. He is with his father and out of harm’s way. We follow her through the steps she has taken to recover, keep well and isolate. Interspersed there are images of cleansing and the metaphors of her state that are a highly effective series of images that heighten the sense of us with a woman who should be able to cope but is finding life a challenge. Then the day dawns that her son can return.

Review

There are four impressive elements here. Firstly, the most obvious is Kate Dickie who manages to provide the subtle nuances of a woman who is facing the pain and anguish of being apart from her child whilst ill without ever straying into melodrama. It is a fine balance and she achieves that.

There is the writing which Jenni Fagan provides with sufficient verbal fluency to deliver a portrait of a woman what is indeed not the same person she was three weeks ago.

Then we have both the direction and images that explain the backstory and the struggle and are bang on point; simply that. It’s a blend that allows the mastery of being able to understand the creative process as an outlet to exhibit others creativity that a very good director makes.

Finally, there is the video work from Mr Den Hertog. This is not the first time that I have seen his ability to infiltrate and enhance the theatrical process and here the visual imagery, the black and white, the ship and just the mastery of an artistry equals that in which it has been wrapped continues to ensure I have his name at the forefront of my mind when thinking video.

It’s easy to say I liked this. It is difficult to say you enjoyed the subject matter but then again, that is the point.

Published