Great piece of local historical comedy

Published on Monday 11 August 2008 09:48

Stramash at the Store *** St Peter's Church Hall HAVING hit the jackpot two years ago with Stooshie at the Store, set at the St Cuthbert's Co-Operative store on Bread Street during the company's centenary in 1959, Edinburgh People's Theatre reprise the idea.

This time, writer and director Irene Beaver has set the play in October 1962 – just before the State visit of King Olav of Norway to Edinburgh.

Amidst this historical accuracy, Beaver creates a fictitious reason for the King to visit the store, which causes plenty of excitement up on the front floor, run by shopgirls May (Michelle Suddon) and Dot (Mandy Black) – ruled over with a rod of iron by Miss Macreadie (Joan Hunter).

It's all supposed to be a secret, however, and, unbeknownst to May, her new fiance, local policeman Stuart (Kenny Mackay), has been sent to work undercover in the camera department.

All of which sets everything up nicely for confusion, Chinese whispers and misunderstandings. While the discovery of buried treasure in the basement and the machinations of a light-fingered customer provide adequate excuse for the stramash of the title.

Along the way, there's plenty of ironic laughter to be had as the girls stand around clacking about how such terrible Continental inventions as pavement cafes and women drinking pints in pubs would never catch on in Edinburgh.

While the arrival of window dresser Joe (Gordon Braidwood) in his new mop-top haircut is cue for everyone to break out into a wee song, more comic gossip about what was on the telly last night and how dreadful it was for that nice Marilyn Monroe.

A pair of vibrant performances from Suddon and Black makes sure the pace keeps swinging along. Iain Fraser as Dot's husband, Peter the carpets buyer, adds a bit of depth, while Sally North, Lyzzie Dell and Marion McKillop all create credible customers.

The only real failing is in the explanation of the historical background, which is left largely up to Joan Hunter. She needs to inject a lot more vitality into her longer speeches which have a tendency to become flat.

Otherwise, this is a great piece of local historical comedy.

Until August 23