You Fancy Yourself is an amusing and endearing tale about an immigrant's integration into Scottish life in the 1950s. Seen through the imaginative eyes of a young Icelandic girl, this play captures the impoverished side of Celtic life and transforms the trials of such an existence into a vibrant and fantastical battleground. This one-woman show is a pleasure to watch and an ode to the novel experience of childhood.

You Fancy Yourself is written and performed by Maja Ardal, and directed by Mary Francis Moore. Julia Tribe's set is simple - a wooden storage chest, reflecting perhaps an immigrant's lot in a new land. The majority of items drawn from the chest during the performance are mimed, non-existent memories of a life left, with the exception of a kilt, which further proves the permanency of the family's new-found reality.

Maja Ardal performs with exuberance and rawness. Her characters range from ridiculous to tragic, and all infused with a sophisticated knowledge of type, within script and performance. Her energy on stage is enthralling, as is her no-holds-barred approach to mutating from character to character.

The script is colourful and apt to the variety of youthful scenarios explored. It would benefit from a smoother transition between each moment in the child's life. But the development of the characters throughout the piece is well-crafted, surprising and heart rending, as is the performance. Of particular delight are the stern and proud headmistress and her unfortunate snotty student, Jamie McDonald - whose soulful rendition of a Scottish classic in the school contest brings the headmistress - and perhaps others - to tears. You Fancy Yourself is a finely-conceived piece, delivered with energy and humour.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Performer - Maja Ardal.

Company Credits: Writer - Maja Ardal. Director - Mary Francis Moore. Set Designer - Julia Tribe. Costume Designer - Julia Tribe. Lighting Designer - uncredited. Sound Designer - uncredited. Technical Operator - uncredited. Producer - uncredited. Company - Anglo / Canadian collaboration Farnham Maltings and Theatre Passes Muraille. Contrary Company Credits (source - www.contrarycompany.com at 19 Sept 09): Company - Contrary Company, Toronto, Canada. Maja Ardal - actor, director, playwright dramaturg, instructor. Mary Francis Moore - actor director, dramaturg, playwright, instructor. Julia Tribe - designer, dramaturg, instructor. Contact - fancymaja [at] gmail.com. Website - www.contrarycompany.com. The Nightingale Theatre Credits: Directors - Miranda Henderson & Alister O'Loughlin.

Tour Dates: 2009: 4-19 July, Victoria Playhouse Festival, Prince Edward Island. 22-25 July, Festival Antigonish, Nova Scotia. 6-30 August, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, presented by Universal Arts UK. 7-20 September, Farnham Maltings, Farnham, England. 29-30 October, Lebovic Centre for Arts & Entertainment, Stouffville, Ontario. Dates 2010: 4-24 January, Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto, Ontario. Contact for Booking Information: Tammy Fox, The Collection Agency Entertainment, (416) 551-0594, tammyfox [at] thecollectionagency.ca. (Source: www.contrarycompany.com at 19 Sept 09.)

END

(c) Tracy Keeling 2009

reviewed Thursday 10 September 09 / The Nightingale Theatre, Brighton UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com