Moving story of a flight
from persecution ++++=
The last time Douglas
Rintoul was in Scotland was to direct a revival of David Greig's *3Europe*2 at
Dundee Rep. There's something of the flavour of that migratory play in this
powerful production for the internationally minded Transport company, as actor
Jamie Bradley tells the story of a refugee traversing the no-man's land of
empty train stations, border crossings and bomb-blasted towns, a man wanted
neither by his own country nor anyone else's.
Based on true stories of
homophobic persecution in Iraq, Elegy is a compassionate study of a man
enduring brutality, fear and exploitation. He is no more guilty of sin than a
left-handed man in a right-handed world, yet his repression becomes so extreme
he can scarcely articulate his reasons for fleeing even to himself.
Staged simply and
strikingly in a white-cube gallery space on a long bed of discarded clothes,
like the shadows of so many human lives, the play avoids the tub-thumping
obviousness of some human-rights drama in preference for Bradley's vivid
storytelling with its clever interweaving of narrative strands and understated
humanity. (Mark Fisher)
Whitespace, 226 0000,
until 28 Aug (not 16, 23), 8.30pm, £10 (£7).
© Mark Fisher 2011
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