REVIEW: Gagarin Way, the Barron Theatre, St.Andrews
By Alexandra Lodge
As it is one of the plays for second year English here at St Andrews, going to see Gagarin Way seemed a sensible decision to give me a head start for the second semester, which is drawing steadily closer; and I was right. Seeing a play is always helpful for studying it, but this is one worth seeing simply for the sake of a good night out at the theatre.
Gagarin Way is a relatively new play, written by Gregory Burke in 2001, but it has had its time in London's West End and has been translated into 20 languages, and toured the world.
A passionate show with an ingenious balance of humour and darkness, Gagarin Way is set in Dunfermline, not so far from our Bubble here. With only four characters, the play is particularly poignant; all four are strong individuals, and the play provides the time and space for them to develop and connect with the audience. The four actors, Lewis Roy (Eddie), Gavin Jackson (Gary), Jamie Wightman (Tom) and Jon Durie (Frank, and also director along with Vicki Grace) play their characters with great skill to give a vivid portrayal of their morals, thoughts and dilemmas. The acting comes naturally and draws the audience into the play, amplifying its impact.
The plot is relatively simple, but with deep-set political and moral themes. Eddie and Gary are two factory workers who kidnap a consultant (Frank) sent to review the state of their factory. As avid believers in socialism, this interference with their work gives them the opportunity, so they think, to make a statement to the capitalist world, by killing Frank. When Frank turns out to be the complete opposite of what they expected (not being from Japan, but Leven, among other complications), and with the unintended presence of politics graduate Tom, a moral dilemma forms. With Eddie and Gary eventually turning against each other in the political and moral debate, the play rapidly heads for a dramatic conclusion.
Down-to-earth and raw, with an appropriately simple yet effective set and fantastic energy from the actors, Gagarin Way proves the value of contemporary theatre. It is worth becoming acquainted with the play whether or not you will ever study it.
By Alexandra Lodge
As it is one of the plays for second year English here at St Andrews, going to see Gagarin Way seemed a sensible decision to give me a head start for the second semester, which is drawing steadily closer; and I was right. Seeing a play is always helpful for studying it, but this is one worth seeing simply for the sake of a good night out at the theatre.
Gagarin Way is a relatively new play, written by Gregory Burke in 2001, but it has had its time in London's West End and has been translated into 20 languages, and toured the world.
A passionate show with an ingenious balance of humour and darkness, Gagarin Way is set in Dunfermline, not so far from our Bubble here. With only four characters, the play is particularly poignant; all four are strong individuals, and the play provides the time and space for them to develop and connect with the audience. The four actors, Lewis Roy (Eddie), Gavin Jackson (Gary), Jamie Wightman (Tom) and Jon Durie (Frank, and also director along with Vicki Grace) play their characters with great skill to give a vivid portrayal of their morals, thoughts and dilemmas. The acting comes naturally and draws the audience into the play, amplifying its impact.
The plot is relatively simple, but with deep-set political and moral themes. Eddie and Gary are two factory workers who kidnap a consultant (Frank) sent to review the state of their factory. As avid believers in socialism, this interference with their work gives them the opportunity, so they think, to make a statement to the capitalist world, by killing Frank. When Frank turns out to be the complete opposite of what they expected (not being from Japan, but Leven, among other complications), and with the unintended presence of politics graduate Tom, a moral dilemma forms. With Eddie and Gary eventually turning against each other in the political and moral debate, the play rapidly heads for a dramatic conclusion.
Down-to-earth and raw, with an appropriately simple yet effective set and fantastic energy from the actors, Gagarin Way proves the value of contemporary theatre. It is worth becoming acquainted with the play whether or not you will ever study it.