ODD COUPLE OF SILVER SCREEN
WHY would Oran Mor theatre producers continually reach across the North Channel to cast an actress from Northern Ireland?
Why would Scots directors of theatre such as the female Odd Couple, pick a woman from Belfast to play a stand-out role?
The answer is, why wouldn’ t they? Because anyone who’ s ever seen A big ail McGibbon work a stage would realise it would be crazy not to seduce her to Scotland.
Last year, for example, A bi stole the show at the Tron Theatre when she appeared in David Ireland’ s romantic comedy, Can’ t Forget About You, playing a bigoted big sister.
This week however, theatre fans can get the chance to see more of the actress’ s range when she appears at Oran M or in Mr and Mrs Laugh ton.
A bi plays Elsa Lanchester, who once star red in the Bride of Frankenstein, and was married to the Hunchback of Notre Dame legend Charles Laugh ton( played by Steven McNico ll).
The play, Abi reveals, explores the odd couple marriage the pair enjoyed from 1929–1962, or perhaps endured, given that Laugh ton was gay?
“Did she know Laugh ton was gay before she married him ?” Abiasks.
“What you have to remember is being gay was illegal in the For ties ,( it was still illegal in Scotland until 1980) so he would have kept his sexuality secret from most people .”
What held the marriage together? It wasn’ t down to the fact they made seven films together?
“Un doubt ably, this wasn’ t a case of the studios putting two stars together( Bride of Frankenstein Meets Hunchback does have a certain press appeal ).
“When he died, El saw as clearly be re ft.An d we explore this in the play.”
What does A bi make of the running theme that so many actresses attach themselves to gay men?
“I don’ t have a theory ,” she says, smiling.“I don’ t think there’ s a one-size-fits-all answer to the question.
“But I’ m guessing with Lan chester and Laugh ton, well they were two people who suited each other, sort of misplaced creatures .”
The plays is set at the end of Laugh ton’ s career as he prepares for his star turn as King Lea rat the RSC.
“It’s about the age-old story of love, in that we learn things too late ,” says A bi .“We deal with grief in this play, and we deal with loss.
“And the delight of this play is we get to see both of them unravel. There is no face, no front. When people are at their most raw there has to bean honesty .”
What did she know about Elsa’s character before reading this script?
“Nothing. But since reading about L an chester I see that lots of what she says clash es with other people’ s interpretations.
“I’ve learned she’ s more of a turn than an actor. L an chester and Laugh ton was certainly the meeting of two different minds .”
Abi McGibbon, rather refreshingly, didn’ t grow up dreaming of becoming an actor.
“It only came about because my mum wanted me and my brother out of the house to get a break and one days he said ‘Pick something ,’ she says, laughing.
“So my brother went into the Sea Cadets and I chose acting. I joined the Lyric Theatre’ s Youth Group and at 19 went to drama school in Dublin.
There’ s no doubt Abigail McGibbon should be on the international stage.
But has being a Belfast actress proved to bean impediment?
“I’d be loathed to say that ,” she says, and lists a sentence of Ulster-born actor successes.
“Should more make it? Perhaps. But I really don’ t have an answer .”
What’ s unquestionable is the presence is A bi brings to a stage. Her Elsa, you know, will be re al.
“I hope so ,” she says, grinning .“I just do my best. But I’m having lots of fun with her .”
Mr and Mrs Laugh ton, Or an M or, until Saturday.
We deal with grief in this play, and we deal with loss and we get to see both of them unravel