A Noble Clown
★★★★★ Essential
Scottish Storytelling Centre: Sat 30 Nov – Sun 1 Dec 2024
Review by Hugh Simpson
Michael Daviot’s A Noble Clown – Scenes From The Life Of Duncan Macrae, is on a short run at the Storytelling Centre as part of the weekend celebrating Scottish theatre linked to Edinburgh 900. If there is any justice in the world, it will be seen again very soon.
There are three reasons why this is an important production. First, it gives due recognition to Macrae (1905-67), a giant of Scottish theatre who seems to be falling into obscurity. His dedication to his craft, versatility and ability as both comedian and ‘serious’ actor need to be commemorated.
Michael Daviot as Duncan Macrae. Pic Michael Nardone
Second, it is a valuable portrait of time when Scottish theatre underwent a renaissance. When Macrae started out, there was virtually no professional theatre in Scotland outwith visiting companies, and anyone with designs on a career had to go to London. Macrae was largely an amateur until the founding of the Citizens’ and was a catalyst for the change.
As well as co-founding Scottish Equity, he was an advocate of Scottish culture, Scottish theatre and the Scots language and would no doubt be pleased to see the proliferation of Scottish companies in recent years. Whether he would be happy about the lack of drama in Scots, or such large chunks of resources being forced into jukebox musicals, is another matter.
Third, and most vitally, is that this is a compelling, involving, carefully staged and beautifully performed piece of theatre. Clearly a labour of love for Daviot, it is put together exceptionally well.
impressionistic
You do get a real sense of Macrae’s life and career on and off stage, with his successes (and failures) clearly shown. But this is far from a dry chronological run through of a life. The various scenes, which work well on their own terms, are put together in a way that seems impressionistic at first, but this – like the transitions between them – is clearly thought through and part of an artistically successful pattern.
Michael Daviot as Duncan Macrae. Pic Michael Nardone
Biographical plays of necessity often end on a downbeat note. Instead, this finishes with a wonderfully uplifting hymn of praise to imagination and the theatre drawn from Alexander Reid’s The Warld’s Wonder.
This segment is staged with a combination of economy and theatrical flourishthat characterises the whole production. Throughout, Michael Nardone’s direction elevates it to another level. While solo shows can come over as dry and static, this uses the performer and the space in a way that is fluid and inventive without ever resorting to gimmickry.
first-rate
The performance, meanwhile, is first-rate. One-handers about distinguished actors sometimes suffer from the impression that the performer is too consciously ‘acting’ rather than embodying the character. There is none of that here; the sense we get of Macrae’s life and motivations is complete. The sections from his successes in such as The Three Estaites, Let Wives Tak Tent or An Inspector Calls, meanwhile are simply riveting.
Just as Macrae took shows with his own company all over Scotland, this production begs to travel far and wide. Anyone with an interest in Scottish theatre, its context, its past and its present, should see it.
Running time: Two hours and 15 minutes (including one interval)
Scottish Storytelling Centre, Netherbow Theatre, 43-45 High St, EH91 1SR
Saturday 30 November/Sunday 1 December 2024
Sat 7pm; Sun 3.30pm
Further details and tickets: Book here
ENDS
