‘WHAT FASCINATED US IS THAT THE STORY MADE THERAPY THEATRICAL'
Houdunni
Steve Cramer talks to Suspect Culture’s Graham Eatough about Freud, commitment, escape and the company’s new production.
it the l‘)3()s. perhaps the most unfortunately
named sexual psychologist of all time. Karen
llorney. dispelled l’reud‘s notion of the lilectra ('omplex. as well as several of the misogynistic ideas he propounded in his mid-career. All the same. she remained a l‘reudian. But we didn’t.
The idea that the clitoris is a sort of underdeveloped penis. the inadequate substitute for something women envy. is just one of the ideas that have made Freud persona non grata to many a thinking person today. Yet there‘s far more to his thought than this. it seems a shame. then. that while teaching a session on l‘reud. as l have on a number of occasions in the past. it often turns into a kind of ‘know your enemy‘ session. for while there is an undercurrent of misogyny to his work. the historical inheritance of Viennese l‘)th century society. there are too many ideas that are key to our culture today to mention in a longish book. For if you admire any psychtnmalyst at all. be it Laing. Kristeva or l.acan. you can't escape the idea that these thinkers are thetnselves all students of l’reud.
And perhaps appropriately unconsciously. so are the rest of us. [)enial. transference. projection — they‘re all part of our everyday conversation these days. A timely moment. then. for the latest commentary on contemporary life from Suspect Culture. based on a book by a l‘reudian psychoanalyst. Adam Phillips~ llumlini's But. in it. the analyst compares a patient. a middle-aged man with commitment problems. to the great escapologist himself. It‘s a strikingly simple metaphor. here adapted for the stage by Simon Bent.
Director (iraham liatough was intrigued by the book‘s potential. and began a development process
with the entire company. ‘What fascinated us is that it made therapy theatrical. There seems to be more people in therapy than there's ever been. or perhaps people are more able to talk about being in therapy these days. The taboos in our small corner of the world are much less than they‘ve ever been. People see it now as one of many tools they can use to find out about themselves. This is very much what Suspect (‘ulture is interested in. because it‘s a very current idea.‘ liatough explains.
And the company have gone about their task in a typically impressive manner. With a cast that includes two of Thl’ I.T'.s‘r‘s Hot |()(). Patti Blair and Selena Boyack. as well as multimedia and live music from David Patti Jones. it‘s hard to find a better- credentialed piece of theatre this side of the Festival. And the structure itself looks set to intrigue. with several narrators from various ages and classes telling
their stories of escape. intercutting with the acts of
Houdini between each story.
But the great magician himself is an interesting study in psychoanalysis. ‘A l‘reudian would have a field day with his stunts. they were so incredibly symbolic.” says liatough. ‘This guy is reborn from cells of water. hanging upside down in an inverted crucifix and he kept escaping so he can escape again.‘
in a society where relationships become just another consumer item. and where we stolidly avoid confronting truths about ourselves. this new work is bound to have something metaphorically articulate to say.
Tramway, Glasgow, Fri 13—Sat 28 Jan.
in. ,
Theatre
Hit
THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
Suspect Cultures new piece ; . "_ the medern psychef- by drawing parallels betweeningfrir the lives of people with commitment problems and-the? life of Houdini. Containing a ' . very strong cast and multimedia work, this should be an intriguing night of theatre. Famway, Glasgow, Fri 13—Sat 28 Jan.
# Tar-unto Tony Cownie’s-
revival of Liz Lochhead’s long acclaimed adaptation of
Moiliere marks a long
association between the two,
with a proven record of
success. This story of religious hypocrisy, power and faith has
all the earthy satirical humour ‘ we’ve come to expect from this combination. Royal Lyceum ’ Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 13 ’ Jan-Sat 11 Feb.
3 My Fair Lady A last
chance to see Trevor Nunn’s production of Lerner and
Leowe’s mighty musical. Splendid performances from Amy Nuttai and Christopher H Cazenove (pictured) in the leads 1 add sparkle to what is in fact a musical with social conscience. Playhouse, Edinburgh, until» Sat 7 Jan. ’ triclndorolla Ashley Page’s festive season ballet has -’ Well received by critics and audiences alike. Expect high duality entertainment. beauty and athleticism. Festival
Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 4-Satlxy' 14 Jan. t Moth" Goon The Edinburgh Mng’s panto still has
a little time left. if you're up for
broad, m‘uSic hall-style
entertainment from those two
great old pros, Andy Gray and Alan Stewart, get yourself along to the King’s. King's Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sat 14 Jan.
1') 16-) .Jan 2006 THE LIST 73