Wha Wadna Follow Thee?
by Irene Beaver
Performed at Venue 17, St Peter's Church Hall, Newington
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Saturday 8th - Saturday 22nd August 2009
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Creative Team
The Cast
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Synopsis:
It's homecoming year for Bonnie Prince Charlie - 1745. The Jacobite Rebellion has come to Edinburgh! But how have two 'savage' Highlanders become separated from the rest? And why is the Prince behaving so strangely? A hilarious Scots comedy.
'Wha Wadna Follow Thee?' is the third Scots comedy from award winning writer and director, Irene Beaver. Written to celebrate "Homecoming Scotland 2009", it saw EPT supporting the national events programme which triumphed Scotland's rich culture and heritage, together with its great contributions to the world.
51 years on the Fringe for EPT in 2009!
Review:
Scotsman - Matt Brereton (Wednesday, 19th August 2009) ***
Wha Wadna Follow Thee?
THIS new play for the Edinburgh People’s Theatre is written and directed by Irene Beaver, one of the society’s longest-serving members, and focuses on what she calls the “first homecoming”, as Bonnie Prince Charlie and his entourage pitch up in Edinburgh on their long march from the north.
The action, staged against a stout Jacobean set design by Andy Hope, sets out straightforwardly enough, and centres on a couple of Charlie’s hangers-on – one a hopeless hypochondriac, the other an orphaned lowlander who has jumped on the Jacobite bandwagon at Stirling and is rather naïve about Highland traditions.
The opening exchanges are gently comedic, with more than a pinch of Still Game-type humour to leaven proceedings. The acting is broadly competent, and there are plenty of in-jokes to keep the locals tittering, including a few obligatory digs at Glasgow’s expense.
In the second half, the play’s twist is revealed, and, without spoiling the surprise, this represents a rather ambitious narrative step-change for a hitherto rather prosaic performance.
There are one or two plot entanglements as a result, and this second section is a touch overlong – but overall Beaver and her players have produced a cosy and chucklesome evening’s entertainment.