A'BODY'S ABERDEE by Don Paterson. Dundee Rep to 24 November

Dundee

A'BODY'S ABERDEE
by Don Paterson

Dundee Rep Theatre To 24 November 2001
Runs 3hr One interval

TICKETS 01382 223530
Review Thelma Good 7 November

Where we could be going white hot from the political manipulations displayed on stage, we roar with laughter at the stupidity of it. We almost forget the politicians, media, PR and spin doctors do it all at our expense. Don Paterson's play is an all too accurate parody of present day politics, with Les Spankie, the Provost, as the council's titular chief. He's lusting to be under the whip of fake fur glamour puss, Councillor Mona McManus - whose wealthy newspaper owner husband Sir Menzies is the one who is really turning and oiling the wheels that torture.

Steve Spaver and Jeannie Torrance are the local radio station jocks, Dave McGovern the council note taker, Councillor Lyn Lathen the anarchist-turned-SNP ( Scottish National Party) and Jim Hughes the arriving new spin doctor. In the end, even he gets spun.

The 8 actors of the Dundee Rep's 13 strong resident ensemble under Sandy Neilson's direction are buoyant in the cartoon strip style of Paterson's Aberdee movers and shakers . This play could be just a balloon of hot laughing gas, and even in these skilled hands its overblown length should have been considerably reduced before the first night. The production does what it can, with fast scene changes and a brisk approach in tune with the frantic politicking in the play.

Paterson keeps the play going, heaping mad scheme onto mad strategy: PPI, vast multi-technology schools and the contracting-out of parts of railway journeys. Lacking a strong overall story denouement where someone triumphs over the muck makers means that the Rabelaisian ride ends not in a riot or repentance but goes away down a definite decline. Despite that A'body's Aberdee is a fair stab at a modern form of Restoration Comedy .

2001-11-12 16:14:54