Theatre review: Auntie Agatha Comes To Tea, Glasgow
Auntie Agatha Comes To Tea - Oran Mor, Glasgow
* *
George Milne’s new lunchtime show for the current Play, Pie and Pint season makes it pretty clear, though, that it takes more than that single thought to flesh out a play, even a short one.
The result is an Oran Mor lunchtime of rare tedium, full of laboured comedy that depends for its effect on our acceptance of a whole range of stereotypes about crime, old ladies and Aberdeen itself.
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Hide AdJohn Bett’s production features an impressive cast, with Jimmy Chisholm and Andy Byatt as the middle-aged brothers locked in conflict over whether topping Auntie Agatha is a reasonable move, and Kay Gallie as Agatha, who of course turns out to be sharper than both of her nephews put together. Chisholm, in particular, conveys a memorable combination of dainty domestic fussiness and ruthless criminal intent.
Once the audience has got that single joke, though, there’s little else to amuse us over a long 50 minutes, apart from the odd inspired moment of comic business from a cast who could offer so much more, given better material.
Seen on 17.03.14