FringeReview Scotland 2016
The C Word
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Drama Students
Genre: Drama, Fringe Theatre, New Writing, Short Plays, Theatre
Venue: Sloans, Bar, Argyle Street, Glasgow
Festival: FringeReview Scotland
Low Down
This is a story of a young girl, told partly through the eyes of her sister, mainly through her own experience, who is taken from the family by cancer. It is a domestic battle that ends with the death but gives the family much to remember. In amongst the poignancy and the sadness there is even a feeling of pride and passion over the loss but also the life of a young girl.
Review
This has a blend and mixture of media – film and live action – to tell the tale with a degree of sensitivity that comes with authentic and deeply researched material; I was impressed by it. The writing caught me and I felt that there was something worth listening to and watching here.
The major issue I had, at times, were the interchanges between characters. I was unable to work out if the stilted nature of some of the conversations were because of struggling with lines or simply to do with the subject matter. If the former, sort it. If the latter, then I think you need to sort out a theatrical way of packaging it.
The set and the video complimented this piece very well. It did feel very cramped – because it was – though well done for genuinely selling out. Having ushers come in to work out how many more could be safely brought in is a welcome sight.
Directorially there were set changes that could have been slicker but overall it was handled well in the cramped conditions. I liked the interplay between live action and the video though better coordination and a better venue would help make the audience more aware of the connection between the two.
Whilst there were a few things to criticise there was a genuinely moving piece of theatre here which tackled an incredibly sensitive topic. The subtlety and sensitivity with which this piece had come together in the hands of students was very impressive. It was particularly impressive that there was little by way of theatricality to get in the way of telling the story. The video added rather than detracted from the experience and you got the feeling both had equal time and were equally important to the production. This story held its own and there was confidence that it would affect the audience as much as it had affected the performers.
I may not have left with a tear in my eye but I did leave asking questions of myself and my relationship with my children; if there is a greater compliment I am yet to hear it.
