j" HALLOWEEN SPECIAL , - 1.... an .‘z'f
Steve Cramer explores gothic tales as he talks to director Tony Cownie about JM Barrie's eerie tale of the supernatural, Mary Rose
t’s often seen as an ill omen if a play of some
antiquity is seldom revived. Yet. in the case of
JM Barrie‘s seldom seen play Mary Rose. this suspicion might not be justified. Certainly. in the year of its release. the play was
dunking, ghost tales and holiday crafts.
I Hallowe’en at Camperdown Wildlife Centre Camperdown Park. Coupar Angus Road. Dundee. 01382 431811. 6—7.30pm. 23.30 (21.05—22.75). Nocturnal tours of a witch's favourite animals. Enter the Goblin's Castle for storytelling or brew ingredients in the Witch’s House. Booking essential.
I Full Moon Frolics Bowhill Theatre. Bowhill House. Bowhill, Selkirk, 01750 22204. 6—9.30pm. £10638). An evening of spooky fun and frolics in the grounds of Bowhill House. with ghost walks, games and spooky cooking. There’ll be full moon fun for all the family.
26 THE LIST 10-00 Oct 2008
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6.30—8pm. Free. Put on your scariest outfit and revel in the haunted hangar if you dare . . I Halloween Fright Night Vogrie House. Vogrie Country Park.
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well received. becoming one of th most distinguished West End performers of I920. attracting a distinguished admirer in the young Alfred Hitchcock. who long afterwards rated it the best theatrical story he’d ever seen. A screenplay was in fact produced. but. for reasons less to do with the quality of the play than the vicissitudes of studio financing. Mary Rose remained the best film Hitchcock never made.
In terms of Barrie‘s storytelling and creation of
atmosphere. it‘s easy to see what the cinematic
master so admired. The eerie. ghostly tale tells of
the eponymous young girl. who disappears into the mists of the holiday isle at which her family is staying. She reappears l 1 days later. somehow changed. Years later. Mary. now a young woman. marries. then. after the birth of a child. disappears again. Her final reappearance a generation later amounts to a memorable theatrical moment . . . but to tell more would be to spoil the chilling denouement.
Director Tony Cownie. who is helming the Lyceum‘s revival of Barrie's play. attests to the creepy narrative power of the piece. ‘There’s a lot of things you don‘t expect that occur in this play.‘ he says. ‘When 1 was reading it. there was this sense that I couldn‘t wait to see what happened. That‘s great storytelling. And it stays with you afterwards.‘
Part of the play‘s ghostly power. Cownie maintains. is Barrie‘s own overarching obsession with what happens after life ends. ‘He‘s fascinated with the idea that you can tamper with life. stop it. rewind. start again. There‘s this fascination of what happens when life ends.‘
Any production of Barrie‘s play requires meticulous casting. Its most successful revival occurred back in the early l970s. when Mia Farrow played the titular character. For this crucial role. Cownie has chosen a young actress. Kim Gerard. who graduated from Queen
Margaret University College only a couple of
years back.
‘To me it was a very important casting.‘ Cownie says. ‘She has to have a childish quality about her. but there‘s also an ethereal quality there. as if she’s from some other dimension. Some people have got that. just something about them. and I think Kim has it.‘
Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 24 Oct-Sat 15 Nov. On Fri 31 Oct, List holders go 2-for-1 while tickets last
I Air and Scare Halloween Party Hallowe'en. National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield. 01620 897240. STORYTELLING
Gorebridge. 01899 229059. 7pm. Etbc. A ghost hunt at Vogrie House featuring a special guest appearance from medium and Living TV star Johnnie Fiori. All proceeds will go to Macmillan Cancer Support.
I The fluid Crack Club Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43—45 High Street. Edinburgh, 0131 556 9579. 10pm. suggested donation 23. A special night of stories and songs for
I Boo at the Zoo Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 0131 314 0350. 7—9pm. 215—21 7 ($10—$12). Those cuddly critters at the zoo might not seem so friendly after you hear some
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As the single most important aspect of the Hallow’s Eve festivities, it’s important to get your fancy dress just right, and with both Glasgow and Edinburgh playing host to a multitude of fancy dress outlets, there is no excuse for not looking the part.
Across in the capital, you cannot go wrong with a jaunt to Armstrongs (0131 220 5557). Lurking in the shadows of Edinburgh Castle. and in an area known for its public hanging and body snatching in days gone by. this vintage clothing emporium has the whole package: and is sure to provide you with something both original and owing with flair. Next up is Glasgow‘s enigmatic Saratoga Trunk (0141 332 0808). famous for providing costumes to a wide range of Hollywood blockbusters. such as Evita and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace — as well as housing a collection that would make any clothes Junkie worth their salt sell their granny for a shopping Spree. Invitation is by appointment only. For more of the same. as well as the chance to go behind-the-scenes, one of Edinburgh's most well loved theatres. The Royal Lyceum (0131 248 4848) has recently reopened its grandiose costume hire department. Whatever yOur choice (be it medieval knight or 19308 jungle explorer) each outfit is sore to be of the highest quality. Last but not least. and undoubtedly the cream of the crop when it comes to quality and range of costumes on offer. the Scottish Opera Wardrobe Department (0141 332 9559) has over 10.000 pieces available for rent. To stop yoor head spinning off from the sheer amount of clothing. Scottish Opera staff will be on hand to help answer any queries. as well as help you pick out your perfect costume.
of the myths and legends about them. For brave souls aged 12+.
I Halloween Party Night David Marshall Lodge. Achray Forest. Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. Aberfoyle. 01877 382258. 4.30—8pm. $28. A magician, fire-breather. juggler and ghost story teller will all convene by the campfire for a night of fun and spooks. All children must be accompanied, BBQ and drinks included in ticket price.
I Frights on the Night Cardrona Forest. lnnerleithen, Peebles. 01750 721120. 6—8.30pm. Free. Aimed at nursery and primary aged children, this evening of craft activities offers an alternative to the frightening Halloween goings-on elsewhere in the Borders.