Mort

Published on Thursday 14 August 2003 01:00

Mort

Subway, Cowgate

AS time goes by, it becomes more and more obvious just how classic Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels really are, not only as hilarious spoofs of the fantasy genre, but as awesome satirical literature.

This adaptation of one of the better DW novels is also a timely reminder that Pratchett was sending up the Harry Potter universe years before the speccy wizard was a gleam in JK Rowling’s eye.

The script, from established Pratchett page-to-stage scribe Stephen Briggs, is absolute comedy gold, seamlessly transferring the source material’s characterisation and surreal flights of fancy to the boards.

The basis of the plot is that Death is tired. He needs a break and for that he needs to take on an apprentice to carry out his duties of transporting souls to the next world. Enter Mort, the gangly young farm boy selected for the job, played by Heather Thompson.

At the beginning of the show Thompson, and the rest of the cast of Yorkshire youth group Harland Hamstrings, are slightly pantomime in their presentation, with a whiff of the amateur that detracts from the sharpness of the dialogue. However, as the piece progresses, everyone relaxes into the material. Thompson in particular grows into the central role with an assured, self-deprecating turn. The set design is fabulous, cramming a ton of ye olde detail and design into the Subway’s relatively constrained surroundings. Visually the highlight of the entire piece is undoubtedly Death himself. A towering masked presence with the requisite doom-like vocal effect, exerting an imposing yet tender presence over proceedings.

But of course the true star of the show is Pratchett’s imagination - from Death’s fearsome white stallion Binky, to Mort throwing the entire history of the future into disarray by messing up an assassination on his first night on the job, and Death’s lump-in-the-throat unemployment application and subsequent gig as a short order chef, nobody does this sort of thing better.

So whether you’re an experienced Discworld aficionado or a newcomer to the strange realities contained therein, if you’re prepared to look past the occasional rough edges from the enthusiastic young cast, this is thoroughly enjoyable.

Runs until Sunday