‘TWO YOUNG HOBBLEDEHOYS WERE BEATING THE BEJESUS
OUT OF EACH OTHER'
Isle be ising yu
Steve Cramer finds the new arts centre on the Isle of Lewis an agreeable venue, and discovers the new Traverse play there.
rounded the darkish corner in time to witness two
crotches rapidly disengage. With the speed and
agility of youth. and in one movement. the young man and woman turned their backs to me and began to hastily re—attire themselves. Reflecting that coitus interruptus ought generally to be practiced by the participants. I muttered a sheepish apology. and hacked out of the close. I turned around to see that 1 might he about to take tip the post of referee. On one side of the square before me two slender young
hohhledehoys were beating the living bejesus out of
each other. on the other side another half dozen youths were making the preliminary pushing and pointing gestures of another brawl.
I could go this way. or reassume the role of human prophylactic down the close. I decided to walk through the middle. giving myself some manoeuvrability in both directions by skirting close to the squares monument to the no doubt numerable military dead of this warrior people. thanklesst lost in mainly pointless wars. I noted. with some relief. that none of the fighting youths. nor their several baying young witnesses were armed with a bottle. [I was. after all. the Sabbath on the Isle of Lewis.
With the Lord‘s judgment hanging heavy upon us we‘d left the pub at the appropriate time. and l accompanied some boon companions back to their [3&8 for a few whiskies. ()n my way back to my
digs. I'd witnessed the Dante-like scenes of
Stornaway life reported above. but I didn‘t feel resentful; it just caused me to refiect that there may be some other source than pure religious observance that made the town so quiet on Sunday mornings. And in spite of it all. an agreeable place it was. mainly because of the splendid An Lanntair Arts
Centre. an airy. beautifully designed and lit venue incorporating both gallery and theatre spaces. and a very agreeable cafe. Situated on the waterfront. overlooking the town‘s commercial harbour and ferry terminal. this is definitely a gaff to visit. My own
journey there had seen me meet lain F MacLeod in
the cafe. We chatted away. surrounded by. no doubt. some of the very young people who would seem so alarming later. They were a striking people: tall. often fair haired and pale blue-eyed like their Nordic antecedents. and their enthusiasm for this venue on this. its official opening night was heartening beyond anything that happened later.
And MacLeod's new play. a marvelous piece reviewed later in the section. encapsulates both the dark and light side of the landscapes of his region. as well as its inhabitants. Australia‘s aboriginals see the white settlers as peculiar beasts. for these invaders believe the land belongs to them. rather than vice versa. The nearest one sees to this attitude in Europe is that of these islanders. Their affinity with the land. or at least that of one of their number forms the heart of] was a [femur/ill Day. In it. a veteran of the first gulf war describes the landscapes to which he belongs with a relish for its myths and physical nuances. entrancing us as much as the ordinance survey executive he speaks to.
The sense of identity found in the place involves a need to belong that we can all identify with. regardless of how well we know the place we call home. It also strongly identifies another Scotland. one that we of the central belt are too apt to forget. MacLeod alone attests to the talent emerging from this place.
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 8-Sat 19 Nov
Theatre
Hit >i<
THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
* I Was a Beautiful Day Philip Howard’s haunting production of lain F MacLeod's new play tells the story of three survivors of a harsh life. One of them, Dan, engages in a delicate recovery from the trauma of war in a mental institution. engaging in very tangible memories of home. Humorous, moving and ultimately life affirming, this is a beautifully crafted piece of theatre. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 8—Sat 19 Nov it Cat on a Hot 'l'ln Root Tennessee Williams’ modern classic gets a strong run out with Richard Baron’s production at the Lyceum. A rapacious household awaits the death of Big Daddy, whose fortune is contested by all but favourite son Brick, whose struggle with his closeted homosexuality leaves him detached and filled with moral revulsion. A dysfunctional family epic. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sat 19 Oct
* Him the King David Greig's version of Jarry's genre- busting classic is set in an old folks’ home. With Gerry Muigrew and Ann Louis Ross leading the obscene and celebratory festivities, this should be an icky, but compelling night out. Tron, Glasgow, Mon 3 - Sat 12 Nov, then toun'ng.
* Betrayal Andy Arnold's production of Nobel Prize winner Harold Pinter’s eternal triangle-in-reverse story is a powerful night out. Featuring an outstanding performance from Selina Boyack as the troubled and unfaithful Emma, this is thought-provoking drama. Arches, Glasgow, until Sat 5 Nov
3—1 7 Nov 200:3 THE LIST 8‘!