NIGHTFLIGHTS Dundee Rep, until Sat 25 May 0.
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Self-identity is hardly a new theme for artists to explore; who we are has been a staple diet of writers since dramatic characters were first put on stage. Marcella Evaristi broaches the subject with a fresh and original eye, but falls headlong into an identity crisis that undermines the confidence of the whole production. To put it bluntly, is it Arthur or Martha?
Blending modern life with traditional folklore, she interposes contemporary characters into the action of a fairytale. King Guido (Robert Paterson) loses sleep over his daughters (Meg Fraser, Susan Harrison, Frances Thorburn, Emily West) who disappear each night without trace, only to return to their beds by morning. Whoever can discover the princesses‘ whereabouts during their ‘nightflights’ can have one of their hands in marriage.
Massimo (Rodney Matthew), having journeyed to Italy in search of his wife, finds himself contemplating the quest. So too does Lorenzo (Billy Mack), the half-brother of Rosa (Ann Louise Ross) an agoraphobic Italian- American in the flat living beneath George (Peter Kelly), a frustrated novelist obsessed with MC. Escher. Throw in another handful of characters and a three-piece musical ensemble, and you’re halfway to sussing the big problem with this production.
It’s just trying to cover too many bases to be wholly successful. Part panto, part musical, and part serious drama, the uneven tone of the piece makes for uneasy viewing. Although frequently very funny, the success of the comic elements renders the serious scenes Iumpen and unconvincing, and the tunes, though tuneful, feel like they’ve been dropped into the action from a great height. Evaristi’s writing is compromised by an overuse of metaphor and imagery, while the whole show would benefit from abridgement, sorting the parallel plots to flow more constructively, and removing the verbiage that clutters much of the dialogue.lf director Hamish Glen thought the play offered a new and different vision for audiences, he was right, but without some tight revisions Arthur Jekyll and Martha Hyde reign divided at the Rep. (Gareth Davies)
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