ROAD
August 1995
 

Cumbernauld News - “Road Works”

If ever a production proved that the district’s amateur talent could easily equal any professional outfit, XCYT and Flipside’s “Road” was it.

Jim Cartwright’s gripping drama, a loose collection of scenes and monologues from the rough end of town, is a challenge for any company.  But XCYT and Flipside proved more than capable of handling it intensity and black humour.

A superb cast, Steve Stewart was outstanding as narrator Scullery, perfectly catching the character’s mix of geniality and dark undercurrents, while Michael Leonard, always excellent, gave a riveting performance as Skin Lad, the violence-loving Buddhist bootboy.

Also were Lesley Stokes and director Paul Osborne, who touchingly played Clare and Joey, the young couple who go on a bed-ridden hunger strike to find out what’s wrong with the world.

Perhaps best of all was Barbara Campbell, whose performance as abused wife Valerie was powerfully moving.

Paul Osborne’s direction was near faultless, missing the mark only in the scene where a middle-aged woman desperately tries to seduce a drunk, insensible – and much younger – soldier. Played strictly – and splendidly, by Eileen Leonard – for laughs it pulled it’s punches, letting the audience off the hook where it could have left them thinking as much a laughing.

The only other let-down was the use of The Commitments’ version of “Try A Little Tenderness” in the key scene where Brink and Eddie (Scott Wylie and Michael Leonard) show Louise and Carol (Debbie Murray and Debbie Thomson) how they relieve the tension of like in the Road.

Now, getting a spiritual release out of the (more commonly used) Otis Redding version I can understand. But The Commitments?  Isn’t that kind of missing the point about the importance of real soul and cheapening Brink and Eddie’s desire to lose themselves in the music?  It’s minor point and, apparently, simply a problem of availability, but it’s a shame to have any blemish on such a first-rate production.

Quibbling aside, the two companies delivered strong, inventive and extremely entertaining drama in their first joint production – hopefully the first of many.

Cast: Steve Stewart, Debbie Murray, Debbie Thomson, Scott Wylie, Michael Leonard, Eileen Leonard, Alison Mackenzie, Lesley Sharp, Gerard Leonard, Kathryn Alexander, David Jenkins, Lesley Stokes, Paul Osborne, Barbara Campbell, John Joe Thacker.

Top