Fuckers & Colours Run (Part of 4Play) – Traverse Theatre

As part of Traverse Theatre’s support of new writing, four brand new plays by four Edinburgh Playwrights are given their first airings over two nights, and it is truly heartwarming to see that they are playing to an almost full Traverse 2 tonight.

The thrust format of the subterranean Trav 2 seems highly appropriate to the first play Fuckers, pardon my French, which, with full frontal nudity, and sexual content from the start packs quite a punch. Ruaraidh Murray’s script follows the on/off relationship between an American actress Lois, played by Olivia Caw, and Scottish comedian, Andrew, played by Liam Ballantyne. The play is unashamedly sexual in content, but in a playful and joyful way which remarkably manages to overcome any sordid undertones, which is surely the biggest challenge here.

The script manages to keep a refreshing air of natural fluidity, as the couple move from scene to scene , with clothes changes set to musical interludes also working well. However, the structure does itself few favours in an overly complex non-linear timeline, which seems to jump at random from the beginning to the end, to the middle and back again, for no apparent reason. Nevertheless, the sheer physicality of the piece provides a focus, which always makes this watchable if not always comprehendible.

Despite my structural misgivings, there is no doubt that Caw is tremendous as the loopy, drawling American, Lois, who flips from raging jealousy to hyper sexuality to scheming bitch in an instant, and manages to play it all with a remarkable freedom and vivaciousness which ensures that this character will live long in the memory. Ballantyne also puts in a fine performance opposite, as the naïve and trusting partner who only realises his fate at the last minute. The chemistry between the two is never in doubt.

Experimental and brave to the point of brazen, this is certainly an exciting vehicle which, whilst watchable and at times hilarious, does not have any urgent allegorical purpose and by the end feels like an X-Rated Groundhog Day, with a significant number of the audience voting with their feet and walking out. Perhaps the biggest flaw here is in not exploring more of the insecurities we all feel with our own bodies, and not allowing the soft underbelly of those emotions to be explored. In something of a missed opportunity, with two fabulous and talented actors on stage, less really can be more, but we are never allowed to explore that possibility.

After a short interval, next up is a tremendous, hard hitting two-hander, Colours Run, with the multi-talented Ruaraidh Murray involved again, this time in front of the audience as big brother Pongo, a hard man, Hibs casual, turned carer and protector to his feeble-minded younger brother Pete, played by Sean Langtree. There is more than a nod to ‘Of Mice and Men’, as it becomes clear that Pete relies entirely on Pongo because he is unable to function independently. The Lennie reference is reinforced in Langtrees imposing frame, his nervous hand wringing and his fascination with soft things, first his Hibs hat and then a Hibs cushion, which becomes a more significant prop over time.

We enter the brothers’ lives as Pongo returns, blood stained from a derby match between the fierce Edinburgh football rivals, Hibs and Hearts. Except we find that Pongo never even made it to the match and fears that a gang attack on a Hearts supporter may have gone too far.

A sizzling script by Mikey Burnett, which never misses a beat and which grows and diverts down some very unexpected alleys, and two very different characters played with absolute conviction by both on stage. This quick hour is gobbled up by a rapt audience who as one rise to their feet at the inevitable conclusion to pound their hands together. Brilliant!

All in all, a tremendous evening’s entertainment. Well done to 4Play and all involved.

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 5^th December 2024

North West End UK Rating:

Fuckers:

Colours Run:

Running time – 2Hrs 40mins (with interval)