The Campbells Are Comin'


The Evening Telegraph - 9th December 2003

SCOTS COMEDY A REAL GUID TONIC
Review by Jan Souter

Dundee Dramatic Society's cast excel in this riotous comedy delivered in auld Scots dialect, writes Jan Souter.

The actions takes place in Ballantrae, a fishing village in Ayrshire, during the 17th century.

Sneck-up Mistriss Phemie (Euphemia, that is) rules the roost in the Gowrie family, lording it over hapless husband Rab (good to see David Kydd back on stage) and his sisters, the Mistresses Annie (Tracy Patterson) and widow Lizzie (Joyce Lindsay), and her lassie Jennie (Debbie Hill).

Phemie feels it her duty to report any indiscretions to her brother, Kirk beedie Hugh Moran, a man of questionable decorum, who has the ear of a minister.

It is five years since the troubles between the MacDonalds and the Campbells and young Jacobite Colin MacDonald (Gavin Matthews) is on the run from the Redcoats.

Some gey peculiar goings-on ensue, not at least when Colin gets in tow wi' feisty Mistress Nel Grierson (Tricia Stewart), considered 'a stain on the guid name o' the parish'.

There is a successful blend of youth and experience in this play with promising performances from newcomers Debbie Hill, Gavin Matthews and Tracy Paterson.

Outstanding were stalwarts Helen Davie (Phemie), who displays a wonderful command of the language, and Ian Stephen (Hugh), whose expressions and comedic timing are superb.

If you still have a puckle sillar to spare, treat yourself to a real guid tonic.

The play runs nightly at 7.30pm until Saturday.

© D C Thomson & Co., Ltd 2003



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