WHOSE
LIFE IS IT ANYWAY - written by Brian Clark
No Mean Company
Cumbernauld Theatre 6 & 7 May, 2005
Directed by Ann MacEwan & Linda Howitt
Whose Life Is It Anyway
Whose Life is it Anyway - written by Brian Clark for the BBC in the
early 1970s - has seen its share of high-profile productions.
It has been a Hollywood movie directed by John Badham and starring Richard Dreyfuss, and more recently attracted the attention of Broadway theatregoers when a version appeared starring Kim Catrall of Sex and the City infamy.
However, intrepid Cumbernauld amateur
group No Mean Company, never ones to be intimidated by precedent, brought
their own version to local audiences this weekend.
This is drama with an agenda, protesting
on hehalf of patients whose personal needs and desires are overridden
by well-intentioned expert opinion. It is the story of a sculptor, Ken
Harrison, left imprisoned in his own useless body after a car crash.
Unable or unwilling to adapt to his
vastly reduced circumstances, Ken decides the only course of action
is for him to be discharged from hospital to die with whatever dignity
he can muster. However, his consultant, Dr Emerson, has other ideas.
He believes it is his sworn duty to preserve Ken's life whether he wants
it or not.
What follows is a gripping drama which
explores a truly provocative issue, and one which surely struck a chord
with many in the audience. While they lack Oscar-winning acting heavyweights,
the cast of local amateur performers showed a real sense of connection
with the material which overcame any rough edges to the production.
My only real criticisms were that occasionally
some of the dalogue was a little on the muffled side - particularly
true of Duncan Weir as Ken Harrison, although I appreciate that spending
the entire play lying prone in bed must surely play merry hell with
one's delivery, and that the resolution seemed a little too brisk, but
that fault likely has more to do with the material than this production.
On balance though, NMC lived up to their
usual high standards, tackling a demanding piece with their trademark
enthusiasm and proving that their flair for comedy ranges from light
farce to the very blackest humour.
Review by Neil McGrory
| Cast Ken Harrison - Duncan Weir Sister Anderson - Jo Grant Kay Sadler - Karen Pender John - Bob Faichnie Dr Scott - Anne Gray Dr Emerson - Calum Cormack Mrs Boyle - Dorothy Roberts Philip Hill - Joe Thomson Dr Paul Travers - Tam Sutherland Peter Kershaw - Paul Howitt Dr Barr - Jo Gallagher Andrew Eden - Robert Grice Mr Justice Millhouse - Charlie Freil |
Crew
|
Thanks to...
Cumbernauld Theatre, Apex Players, Chris High, Bill Winter, Mike Dorrance,
Amanda Howson, Ronnie Graham, Kim Dillon, Joan McLelland, Beatrice Duncan,
Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Clyde Action
www.tesco.com | www.alexandra.co.uk | www.alliedcarpets.co.uk/scotland.htm
break the rules as I see fit.” - Chris High 2003.