Regular visitors will be forgiven for thinking Write, Watch and Critique has abandoned the delightful job of Writing, Watching and Critiquing plays. Forgiven, but I hope, cheered to learn this is not the case.
A lot of attention has had to be lavished on my partner blog, Novels Now, http://goo.gl/ep3ZIx where news of Mariah’s Marriage and Bella’s Betrothal can be found.
Plays. Last Saturday I visited the Georgian House in Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square for an unusual dramatic offering. The Georgian House Players together with dancers under their Dance Master, Alex Howard, presented scenes from Georgian life.
Dressed in contemporary costume, they took on the concerns of the various members of the household on Christmas Eve 1811. The house at that time was owned and occupied by Mr. Lamont. We were invited to be a party of guests and one of our number was issued with an embroidered waistcoat marking him out as the principle visitor.
I was delighted to be taught a few measures from the Pollonaise and to learn that Mr. Lamont had to have cheese, Ayrshire cheese. A man after my own culinary heart.
New Work
More new drama was on offer at the adjudication of the Edinburgh Writers’ Club’s Drama competition last night. John Binnie conducted a workshop for the club in October and last night he commented on the members’ offerings written thereafter.
John mentioned how several of the plays had a character with Alzeimher’s Disease and that this was evidence of a trend in people’s thoughts and concerns. He also pointed out as he moved through the entries how some were the more dramatic because of their scene setting. One play, called Stuck, had a character stuck to a table by super glue while the metaphorical meaning was in the head of another. The winning play offered good opportunities for the actress to move around the stage and show character in action.
Winner, San Casimally, went for a one woman play called Mother’s Day. John expressed surprise to discover San was a male as he thought the piece captured the female experience so well.
Up next should be my trip to the Royal Lyceum’s Christmas Carol. Looking forward to it already.