The Testament of Gideon Mack
★★★☆☆ Meandering
Traverse: Thurs 6 – Sat 8 Mar 2025
Review by Hugh Simpson
Dogstar’s touring production of The Testament of Gideon Mack is involving and thoroughly accomplished but simply too long to be entirely convincing.
James Robertson’s celebrated novel, here adapted by Dogstar’s Mathew Zajac, is about a man who becomes a Church of Scotland minister almost by accident, and has no real belief in anything beyond this world until an apparent encounter with the Devil. The book was longlisted for the Booker Prize after its 2006 publication and has since become something of a Scottish classic.
Kevin Lennon in The Testament of Gideon Mack. Pic: Paul Campbell
This production suffers from the very common problem of adaptations of much-admired novels – the desire to include too much. This often seems particularly acute when the book is on the exam syllabus; although, with the novel dropping off the list of National 5 texts, it will no longer be an issue.
Since you are never going to get the whole book on stage, there is no reason not to cut more. The play certainly meanders over its near three-hour running time, particularly in the 90-minute first half. New plays could often benefit from trimming a few minutes off; this is too long by at least half an hour.
The ruminations on truth, faith and belief in a changing Scotland in Robertson’s book are here. The time-hopping narrative in Zajac’s adaptation is cleverly done. However, the Justified Sinner-inspired structure of the book, which casts Gideon as a decidedly unreliable narrator, is understandably played down.
energetic and believably doubting
This means that Gideon (a tremendously energetic and believably doubting Kevin Lennon) and his experiences completely dominate the narrative. The trouble is that (as is stressed) he is not a particularly attractive figure, incapable of loving anyone, even himself. Moreover, being perennially in shorts makes him distractingly reminiscent of Oor Wullie’s pal Soapy Soutar.
Matthew Zajac and Kevin Lennon in The Testament of Gideon Mack. Pic: Paul Campbell
Zajac himself has a double role as Gideon’s father, an apparently more traditional minister, and a very urbane Devil. These are more conventionally showstopping performances and are discharged with skill and relish.
The other characters tend to be more subsidiary; Blythe Jandoo, the excellent Molly Innes, Katya Searle, Fraser Sivewright, Anthony Strachan and Rebecca Wilkie nevertheless invest their various roles with dignity and humour. Particular mention to Searle, whose storytelling opens the show.
not entirely integrated
There is a great deal to admire about the staging, but one of the effects of the show dragging is that you notice some things more than might be the case. Many of the elements, good as they are, are not entirely integrated into Megan de Chastelain’s direction.
Katya Searle and the company of The Testament of Gideon Mack. Pic: Paul Campbell
Kate Bonney’s doomy lighting and Aidan O’Rourke’s sound design are both very good indeed, but tend to be more noticeable than would be ideal. Similarly, Sasha Harrington’s movement direction is extremely accomplished, but there are too many instances of the cast swaying in unison or pushing Gideon round the stage.
awkward transitions
Kenneth MacLeod’s design (Gideon’s peculiar costume aside) is also very good, but the constant moving of furniture becomes a distraction, and contributes to awkward transitions between scenes.
None of this is due to any lack of effort or skill. Indeed, everything good about the production is the result of great care from everyone concerned at Dogstar (once again, as the programme points, somewhat inexplicably recently turned down for three-year funding). Almost every problem in the production could have been solved by some judicious further cuts.
Running time: Two hours and 45 minutes (including one interval)
Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge St, EH1 2ED
Thursday 6 – Saturday 8 March 2025
Daily at 7.30 pm
Details and tickets: Returns only here.
Tour continues:
The Gaiety Theatre, Carrick St, Ayr KA7 1NU
Mon 12 March 2025
One performance: 7.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here
Dundee Rep Theatre, Tay Square, Dundee, DD1 1PB
Thurs 13/Fri 14 March 2025
Evenings: 7.30pm; Fri mat: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Kevin Lennon and the company of The Testament of Gideon Mack. Pic: Paul Campbell
ENDS
