The Shadowy Waters Komedia @ Southside **** The Scotsman Vertical Divider
THIS talented young group performs a play by Yeats on a shoestring budget to a handful of people in the middle of the night. The spirit of the Fringe is alive.
If you are turned off by Yeats' flirtations with magic harps, murdered kings and defiled queens, you'll find this play a bit daft. However, if you enjoy mythical resonance, chivalric romanticism and swooning lyricism, this show's for you. The cast relish the dense poetic language, exhibiting superb discipline and impressive vocal work. The production, tight, elegant and passionate, delivers everything from chilling fear of the unknown to the tenderest eroticism with clarity, conviction and sensitivity. Simple lighting is used to great effect and bold tableaux make foe effective staging. Yeats' interest in traditional Japanese theatre is apparent, and there is a visual richness which draws from art nouveau. This company has done its homework. It is a joy to witness these dedicated performers flexing their considerable theatrical muscle on this demanding script. Diane Dubois |