Gabriel Quigley
Muriel Spark: Creme de la Creme
★★★★☆ Literary:
On the eve of the centenary of Muriel Spark’s birth, the Usher hall was packed for Muriel Spark: Creme de la Creme, an evening of readings, reminiscences and a performed reading of the Edinburgh-born author’s only play.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
★★★★☆ Wonderful:
While not specifically Christmassy, Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland at the Lyceum proves an ideal fit for the festive season. Hugely colourful, funny, and fascinating, it is thoroughly involving and a little disorienting.
Canned Laughter
★★★★☆ Canny:
Pathos and superbly performed comedy combine in Canned Laughter at the King’s all week until Saturday.
The Driver’s Seat
✭✭✭✩✩ Fury and fear:
The National Theatre of Scotland’s adaptation of Muriel Spark’s The Driver’s Seat has a righteous fury, combined with a drive born out of cleverly harnessed technology and a tight ensemble.
Referendum week theatre
Drama on stage as Scotland decides
The Traverse leads the way with referendum-orientated theatre in the final week before polling on Thursday, although there is a celebration of the Scottish written word from the NTS and a spot of post-referendum experimentation down at the Village Pub on Friday.
Spoiling
✭✭✭✭✩ Successful and timely
Punchy, poetic and utterly contemporary, the world premiere of John McCann’s Spoiling in Traverse 2 is much more rewarding than its short duration may suggest.
Review – Most Favoured
Satisfaction is not always a reflection of the absolute quality of what is on offer, as this constantly surprising Play Pie and a Pint offering by David Ireland demonstrates most effectively.
