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Five Pound & Twa Bairns (Dundee Repertory Theatre)


The Evening Telegraph - 15th June 2007

WELCOME RETURN FOR POIGNANT PLAY
Review by Laura Brown

The pick of Dundee's acting talent were reunited last night onstage at Dundee Rep, as Mike Gibb's excellent Five Pound and Twa Bairns made a welcome home-coming with its original cast, writes Laura Brown.

Set in Dundee at the time of the Tay Rail Bridge disaster, this musical play is funny and poignant. It tells the story of three very different fictional women whose lives change forever on that fateful day in 1879. Thanks to a consistantly fine cast, the audience is transported to the 19th century and feels each character's pain, frustration, anger and guilt, every step of the way.

The production boasts an outstanding trio of female leads. Tricia Stewart bring depth and emotion to Mary Boyd, while Sue Robertson shines as Grace Steele, a widow and proud mother. A special mention must go to Christine Howie, whose facial expressions speak a thousand words with her turn as Rebecca Lawrence, a 'lady who lunches' whose Army husband is making an unwlecome return to be with her after decades apart.

The ladies are complemented by three equally talented leads. Scott McRuvie plays hen-pecked Alec Boyd, Daniel Adams excels as Andrew Steele, Grace's prodigal son and Sinclair Ross epitomises a pompous army general. The three's camaraderie in the hilarious train carriage scene sets the audience up for a rollercoaster of emotion as the bridge inevitably falls.

Five Pound and Twa Bairns, a sell-out, runs until tomorrow.

© D C Thomson & Co., Ltd 2007



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