Burns with no holds Bard
More style than substance
FROM its opening, set in a thunder storm, where a muscled-up Alan Cumming stands spotlit centre stage, to curtain close where, whisky in hand, he toasts auld acquaintances, the National Theatre of Scotland’s take on Rabbie Burns is a triumph.
But it’s a triumph of style over substance – albeit one buoyed by Cumabout ming’s undeniable charisma.
Presented as part of the Edinburgh International Festival before going on tour, this dance theatre conceit conceived by the Scots star is rivalled only in curiosity value in Edinburgh by Sir Ian McKellen’s similar crossgenre take on Hamlet.
Is it visually arresting? Absolutely. Does Cumming command the stage for the duration? You bet. But after all the hoo-ha this being a dance/theatre piece aimed at challenging its star artistically, the choreography by Steven Hoggett is not so much interpretive movement informing the narrative as watching Cumming limber up for a game of football. Though, to be fair, he does burst into a Highland fling now and again.
As for shining a revolutionary new light on the Bard? Well, the best laid plans of mice and men spring to mind.
What it sets out to do is highlight a mood map of Burns’ mental state –the highs and depressive lows. But given the thumping techno and plays of light, his mental state seems to resemble that of Ayrshire rave hangout, Hangar 13, back in the day.
But it is Cumming’s star quality that raises it just above average levels – he even had me wanting to reach for the black bun and burst into a chorus of Flower of Scotland.
King’s Theatre, today and tomorrow
HIS biggest hit with The Communards was Don’t Leave Me This Way, and the Rev Richard Coles could have been forgiven for warbling the song again after being trapped in a Waitrose lift. A 999 crew answered his prayers and set the broadcaster, 60, free. ‘Two of my fellow passengers were in their 90s,’ he says. East Sussex Fire Service says: ‘Firefighters from Eastbourne attended and released a small group of people.’ A Waitrose spokesman says: ‘We hope he enjoys a drink on us.’