Gagarin Way
04/12/10 19:32
Theatre Company: Frisky Productions
Writer: Gregory Burke
Director: Gareth Reeves
Cast: Kevin Keys, Emmett Skilton, Edward Newborn and Will Wallace
Location: 181 Hobson St
Gary and Eddie, two factory workers awash with anti-globalism anger, kidnap a visiting Japanese executive. The stage is set of the dramatic release of their manifesto and a statement to the waiting world through political violence.
Only, Frank the exec isn’t Japanese; Eddie forgot the balaclavas; Gary’s manifesto is a little hazy; and Tom, a young security guard with a degree in political science, has come back for his hat.
With the four men confined to a claustrophobic factory store room, the tension crackles. As each of their stories emerge throughout the play a visceral and fiercely comic explosion of ideas, beliefs and hopes plays out.
Staging this play in an actual industrial space was inspired. It really helped to set the scene and transport us to post-industrial Scotland. The play was cleverly written. The acting was great - really great! For me though, there was something missing. Something I could really relate to on an emotional level. It reminded me of listening to a bunch of bright blokes whiling away an evening butting heads with their, predominantly uninformed but strongly held, views of the world’s problems and how they should be solved. At the end of the evening, you have a little more understanding of what those men’s lives look like (some bare details relating to their work, relationships and history) without a real understanding of who they really are.
Writer: Gregory Burke
Director: Gareth Reeves
Cast: Kevin Keys, Emmett Skilton, Edward Newborn and Will Wallace
Location: 181 Hobson St
Synopsis (from the promotional material):
Gary and Eddie, two factory workers awash with anti-globalism anger, kidnap a visiting Japanese executive. The stage is set of the dramatic release of their manifesto and a statement to the waiting world through political violence.
Only, Frank the exec isn’t Japanese; Eddie forgot the balaclavas; Gary’s manifesto is a little hazy; and Tom, a young security guard with a degree in political science, has come back for his hat.
With the four men confined to a claustrophobic factory store room, the tension crackles. As each of their stories emerge throughout the play a visceral and fiercely comic explosion of ideas, beliefs and hopes plays out.
Thoughts on this Production:
Staging this play in an actual industrial space was inspired. It really helped to set the scene and transport us to post-industrial Scotland. The play was cleverly written. The acting was great - really great! For me though, there was something missing. Something I could really relate to on an emotional level. It reminded me of listening to a bunch of bright blokes whiling away an evening butting heads with their, predominantly uninformed but strongly held, views of the world’s problems and how they should be solved. At the end of the evening, you have a little more understanding of what those men’s lives look like (some bare details relating to their work, relationships and history) without a real understanding of who they really are.