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Abandonment tells
two love stories, both of which end unhappily. One, the main strand
of the play, is set in the present day, whilst the other, happens
dring the Victorian era.
In the modern strand, Elizabeth (Patricia Kerrigan) has an affair
with newspaper photographer Alec (Neil McKinven). For her it is real,
for him it is a bit of fun, just another of his many conquests (including
Patricia's sister Kitty, played by Elaine C Smith), and he dumps her.
In the Victorian strand, governness Agnes (Michelle Gomez) has an
affair with her employer Merric (also played by McKinven), becomes
pregnant and is killed by Merric's wife Laetitia (played by Smith).
Both strands are set in the same room, which is the main room of Elizabeth's
new flat in the modern strand and the drawing room of the house in
the Victorian. The two strands are linked, aparts from the similar
situation, by the ghost of Agnes and the discovery of her skeleton
under the floor in the modern.
It's an enjoyable play, but one which is flawed. The modern scenes
are much more successful than the Victorian, which tend to be rather
overwritten and even overheated, with characters that tend to be somewhat
stereotypical.
There are many wonderfully witty one-liners in the modern strand -
I loved Elizabeth's mother's "tikka chicken mascara", and there is
a delightful exchange between the sisters: Elizabeth says to Kitty,
"I think you're confusing yourself with someone who gives a shite,"
to which Kitty replies, "Oh. So I am"!
I see a great future for this play as a touring vehicle and as a play
for the better amateur companies. It's funny and enjoyable - the audience
loved it - but just misses the spot.
***(*)
- 2000 Edinburgh Fringe review
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