Sign up now to receive free Theatre updates
Get the latest Theatre news every morning with our myFT Daily Digest email.
Political plays that resonate are often crafted over time rather than in the heat of the moment. Peter Arnott’s Group Portrait in a Summer Landscape, which premiered at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre in August and is currently playing at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre, is a prime example. Drawing on the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and the fervor surrounding it, Arnott brings a nuanced perspective nine years later.
Arnott has been hailed as the “Scottish Chekhov” for this play, which takes place in the summer of 2014 at the Perthshire home of a well-off couple. The characters come from varied backgrounds – a renowned academic past his prime, a once-acclaimed actor now married to him, their curator daughter in London, and the lingering presence of their deceased son. Alongside them are an aging actor, two former students, and their partners, all connected by complex relationships, each holding a different stance on Scotland’s future. Over the course of the two-hour drama, they engage in passionate debates, delve into their painful pasts, and confront the upcoming vote, with some firmly in favor, some against, and others uncertain.
What may seem like heavy-handed political propaganda actually possesses the opposite effect. Arnott explains in the program notes that these characters have lived in his mind since the late 1980s, and it shows. He portrays them with such authenticity and compassion that they feel like real people, and their conversations ring true. The play shares similarities with Richard Nelson’s Apple Family plays, which explore the lives of upstate New Yorkers against the backdrop of historical change.
The production benefits from the skilled direction of playwright and Lyceum artistic director David Greig, who infuses the play with a naturalistic feel, and a talented cast of nine performers who bring depth and warmth to their roles. John Michie embodies George with a geniality reminiscent of Jeremy Irons, while Deirdre Davis brings angsty integrity to Edie. Jessica Worrell’s set design impresses as well, with a few carefully chosen pieces of furniture set against the backdrop of the Perthshire countryside, evoking the scent of heather.
The play is not without its flaws – the second half could be tightened, and Arnott risks undermining his meticulously constructed world with a melodramatic ending. However, despite these imperfections, Group Portrait in a Summer Landscape remains a captivating and thought-provoking piece of theater. It offers an intimate and articulate composite portrait of a country standing at a critical juncture.
★★★★☆
Running until October 14, lyceum.org.uk
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
