ASLEEP UNDER THE DARK EARTH
February 2001

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            "Asleep Under the Dark Earth has been in progress since October with our two hour long rehearsals on a Thursday night. The cast comprises of all youth theatre members aged between nine and eighteen. I was lucky enough to get the part of Bethan, the nervous, impressionable heiress who, halfway through the show, metamorphoses into Nia, passionate, fiery peasant. (Don't worry, it will al make sense eventually). The hardest part from me, a fidget by nature, was the sudden change of character and learning to control the subtle body movements that I didn't even realise I had while trying to imitate Leanne, who has a more relaxed posture, in tandem. 
            Why did nobody tell me that staying still while saying lines was so hard? Oh well, I guess it'll be alright on the night?" - Natalie Connell.

            "I first saw Asleep Under the Dark Earth five years ago while participation in the BT National Connections competition in Inverness. It was staged, very differently, by two Youth Theatre groups and of all the performances we attended over those few days, these affected me most strongly. There was a magic about the play which made it stand out against the others, and when the opportunity came to suggest a piece for performance here in Cumbernauld, it immediately sprang to mind. Knowing the people involved in this production, I am convinced it will be the best interpretation I will se and I am looking forward immensely to witnessing the home-grown version. - Alan McDonald

            "Asleep Under the Dark Earth" is set in the 1830's. This is the first factor I struggled to bet my head around, when tackling the character of Caleb Jones. Caleb is a preacher, in his thirties, who enters a small town looking to fulfill a personal agenda. I found it difficult to play this character. The fact that he is twice my age, my being only 18, made it impossible to get inside the character's head. I also had to cope with learning vast amounts of lines while staying in control of my character. This part has provided me with my biggest action challenge to date, and I feel that this challenge has added to my enjoyment of the play. I only hope it adds to your enjoyment as well." - Robert Stewart

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            All these elements in Sian Evans' play, Asleep under the Dark Earth, as performed recently by Cumbernauld Youth Theatre, might just add up to an absorbing piece of storytelling.

            However, like Caleb Jones, the preacher in the play, the script do not deliver what it promises and there are too many loose ends and poorly drawn character for complete satisfaction

            The Youth Theatre actors, however, rose above the limitations imposed on them by the script - and the difficulties of manouvring a large cast and a plethora of props through some complicated scene changes in the Theatre's small Studio - and turned in some great performances.

                        Landowner

             At the centre of the story are two teenage girls. Bethan is the daughter of the local landowner, while her closest friend Nia is the daughter of farm labourers.

            Bethan's philanthropic mother educated Nia and her brother Deri alongside her own daughter, so the three grew up together. 

            But since his wife's death, Bethan's stern father, who doesn't approve of charity, has forbidden Bethan to see them. However, Bethan and Nia share a secret. As children they discovered (how is never clearly explained!) a kind of magic that allowed their souls to leave their bodies, and occupy those of birds and animals. 

            When magnetic and ambitious preacher Caleb Jones comes to live in Bethan's house, both she and Nia fall under his spell. He is to marry Bethan, but seems to be attracted to Nia. Before the wedding, the two girls meet by chance, and at Nia's suggestion they try the magic once more. Bethan becomes a bird and Nia betrays her, putting her own soul into Bethan's body to spend on night with Caleb, with disastrous consequences. 

                        Hypnotic

            Robert Stewart, as Caleb, successfully conveyed the hypnotic charm and plausible authority of the self-styled saviour of the struggling community. 

            As the two friends, Natalie Connell as Bethan and Leanne Foxwell as Nia handled the subtle emotions and the close relationship between their characters well. Murray Wason's Deri was given little to work on buy made the most of his brief appearances as did Mark McKinely as Tate, Bethan's overbearing father. Erin Docherty and Katriona Wilson furnished some well-received light relief as the two snobbish aunts Pamela and Clarissa, while Adrianne Calgie provided solid support as Bethan's occasionally baffled maid Mari. 

            he rest of the cast gave atmospheric assistance as the chorus, standing stock-still behind picture frames as the family portraits, whispering spooky undertones to the supernatural scenes and conjuring up crowds of villagers and wedding guests. 

            Director Terri Jones and the Youth Theatre company are to be applauded for an enjoyable and well-crafted production.

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The Cast and Crew of "Asleep Under the Dark Earth"