Comments on View From The Stalls: "Confessions of a Justified Sinner" - October 2009...

You know, I studied this book at University and ut...

2010-01-20T17:14:42.556Z

You know, I studied this book at University and utterly adored it. I remember that one of the big discussions at the time was that the hardline Protestant views (depicted in this piece) of the time, caused lasting damage to Scotland's literary heritage - in large part due to the book burning and suppression of creativity under such staunch rule.

Isn't it ironic then that one of the largest pieces of work from our literary forefathers is 'The private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner' a piece which both attacks and exposes the religious mania of the time? It is a complex piece which I never imagined would translate onto the stage.

How do you convey one person morphing into another? Or even the account being in third person then switching to first person narrative before changing back to third? How would they answer the questions that Hogg himself did not answer? How do you make a golden Pistol appear from the etha? And of course, the questions continue.

Yet I was surprised by Mark Thompson's (more than) admirable attempt. By the precision from his tremendous cast and by the fact that he refrained from being a smart arse and offering answers to that which Hogg hadn't. As for this homosexual undertone debate that I've read from bloggers: It was a debate that infuriated me five years ago at uni as much as now. That is the reader's take and not something Hogg expressly wrote - or even decided to write. Men were much more expressive with phyisical contact back then; without it being sexual. I refute the argument that Thompson should have pushed this sentiment onto the text.

I thought the set expressed the confusion of the piece and was exploited wonderfully, with characters appearing from (seemingly) nowhere. The pitch of the performances was perfect (with of course the odd exception) and the errie lighting and music helped create an electric atmosphere.

I applaud Thompson for exploring this classic - and much under appreciated - piece of Scottish literature. I applaud his cast and I hope more and more people are introduced to Hogg's work through fantastic productions such as this.

Almost three months later this production lives on in my memory, there's not much theatre does that to me. Most of all I applaud Hogg for leaving us such a fantastic piece of work that Mark Thompson and his gang managed to bring to life so well

ooooh Betty.

2009-11-18T23:28:17.302Z

ooooh Betty.

Hi Jane, I'm glad you and your husband enjoyed the...

2009-11-05T22:37:35.879Z

Hi Jane, I'm glad you and your husband enjoyed the show - that's what it's about after all.

Unfortunately it just didn't work for us. I agree that a lot of the reviews are positive (some more so than others). We make a point of avoiding reading the reviews of a show we've already booked to see as we don't want spoilers or the thoughts of others influencing us before we see it and form our own opinion. It can be interesting in hindsight looking at what others have said. Especially when they've picked up on something that we've felt the complete opposite. For example, in this case, a lot were really impressed by the stage. Whilst for me the rotation started getting irritating quite quickly and I found it distracting and felt it slowed the pace and sapped energy.

Like anything subjective you're going to get different opinions, and that's why we enjoy going to the theatre so much. Even going to a show with friends and family can result in arguments on the way home! I also think that's why reviews should always be used as an aid, and never a definitive reason to see or not see a show.

Hey Jane, who said Confessions couldn't be done on...

2009-11-05T16:50:27.736Z

Hey Jane, who said Confessions couldn't be done on stage? There was a production of it at the Lyceum about 25 years ago and I was in the original production of that adaptation by Stuart Paterson with TAG nearly 30 years ago...

Did you guys even see the same show I did? The pr...

2009-11-05T01:50:13.648Z

Did you guys even see the same show I did? The production I saw is on at the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh and was utterly terrific. I honestly cannot believe this is a review of the same production. You are so far off the mark on this one it is UNBELIEVABLE.

I am a huge fan of Ryan Fletcher's too and have also enjoyed watching his talent develop over the years; yet in this play I felt he had really come into his own. He was mature, painstakingly marked and emotive to the point of tears on my part. I felt that the intense relationship between himself and Iain Robertson was remarkable and without doubt one of the finest I have seen in years - a point of view backed up by the Herald, Scotsman, the List and the Evening News to name but a few.

As for the multi-casting, I felt the cast did a fantastic job turning on a sixpence and leaving the audience with no doubt as to who and what they were playing. Partictularly Lewis Howden (who is without doubt one of the unsung greats of Scottish theatre) and Kern Falconer.

This is a piece they said could not be done; well for my money (and for my husband and I it was £27 a piece thank you very much - and money well spent!) this is a piece of theatre that proves Hogg's work can be done and to the highest of expectations. I might add that my husband and I approached the theatre last Wednesday feeling this piece would never translate onto the stage. How surprised we were, how wonderfully and pleasantly surprised we were.

A great cast in a great work, directed fantastically. Whoever you are; you must not have seen the same play as myself. Frank Spencer indeed - what nonsense!

Go see this play!

Jane McDougall