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WS Graham: Out Of His Head
Verdict: Unclear, uninteresting, unmoving
The concept for WS Graham: Out Of His Head is simple: a theatrical reading of some of the little-known Scot's letters and poems. However, in practice it's not nearly simple enough, with the meandering biography being unclear, and the poetical recitations unmoving.
The stage is artistically and evocatively set: a lone chair, a typewriter, a wash-stand with jug and a swirl of sand evoking the poet's life. It's well-used by Kenneth Price as WS Graham, as he marks time in his movements around the stage. The mundane and the ordinary are well-explored by Kenneth Price as he changes in and out of pyjamas, washes himself and drinks water and whisky throughout his ramblings. Unfortunately, this is not enough to make the performance interesting. The actor fails to connect, and so the text can seem monotonous, with no differing states of tension. He is also vocally uninteresting, remaining on a similar exasperated pitch for the entire show. His over-annunciation does not make up for the lack of genuine connection with his material.
The play also lacks clarity in its composition due to the bungled introduction of many characters from WS Graham's life who flit in and out so often that it is not clear who is being quoted - Graham himself, or another of his artist friends. Anyone to whom WS Graham and his fellow artists were previously unknown doesn't stand much chance of an education, as explanations and the establishing of identities are inadequate. And when biographies are elaborated, they are cumbersome and dry.
Despite the confusion, there are one or two moments when the stand-alone beauty of a sentence breaks through the drudgery of the telling. This may be enough to satisfy a WS Graham fan - or perhaps encourage the discovery of his work for a new one.
Cast Credits: Kenneth Price - WS Graham.
Company Credits: Writer - WS Graham. Collated by - Kenneth Price. Director - uncredited. Lights & Sound - S Thomas. Producer - Kenneth Price.
END
(c) Sara Pascoe 2007
reviewed Monday 20 August 2007 / Underbelly
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008