Tron Theatre, Glasgow
Four stars
This is evident from even the most casual of sparring as Coleman and Valene return from their father's funeral with Father Welsh to act as referee as much as failed spiritual guide. Temptation for them all comes in the form of teenage wild child Girleen. Left to their own devices, however, Coleman and Valene continue a tug of war that increasingly becomes a very dangerous matter of life and death.
Andy Arnold's new production of McDonagh's manic sit-com adds nuance to an increasingly crazed situation, never allowing Keith Fleming and David Ganly's ferocious double act as Coleman and Valene to over-heat in the way that Valene's figurines do after they're thrown unceremoniously into the stove like born again tin soldiers at the gates of Hell. Biblical references are there too in Michael Dylan's Father Welsh and Kirsty Punton's Girleen. These are at their most obvious in the
Four stars
The felt-tip and sticky-taped on V
shapes that adorn the dilapidated living room occupied by the two
warring siblings at the centre of Martin McDonagh's 1997 play say
everything about their relationship. As daubed on by a bear-like
Valene marking territory from his biscuit tin of booze to his
mantlepiece of religious figurines, the V could be for victory,
however pyrrhic, over his equally volatile
brother Coleman. If not, it could be marking out the v that divides
gladiatorial combatants before they go into
battle.
This is evident from even the most casual of sparring as Coleman and Valene return from their father's funeral with Father Welsh to act as referee as much as failed spiritual guide. Temptation for them all comes in the form of teenage wild child Girleen. Left to their own devices, however, Coleman and Valene continue a tug of war that increasingly becomes a very dangerous matter of life and death.
Andy Arnold's new production of McDonagh's manic sit-com adds nuance to an increasingly crazed situation, never allowing Keith Fleming and David Ganly's ferocious double act as Coleman and Valene to over-heat in the way that Valene's figurines do after they're thrown unceremoniously into the stove like born again tin soldiers at the gates of Hell. Biblical references are there too in Michael Dylan's Father Welsh and Kirsty Punton's Girleen. These are at their most obvious in the
rally of confession and forgiveness
that sees the brothers square up to each other across the kitchen
table. Like grand-masters in search of checkmate, as they attempt to
reconcile their differences, the only thing left for them to have
faith in is each other.
The Herald, July 11th 2016
ends
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