Mother of All the Peoples (Dundee Premiere)


The Courier and Advertiser - 19th March 2004

MOTHER OF ALL THE PEOPLES
Review

MIKE GIBB'S musical play at the Gardyne Theatre, which tells the story of Dundee missionary Mary Slessor, is a little gem of a work. Engaging in it's directness and like Mary herself, without pretention, through words and song, the piece tells of her life in her adoped home of Dundee (she was born and spent her earlier years in Aberdeen) and in Calabar, Nigeria, writes Joy Watters.

A celebration of a remarkable woman, it is an all-woman production with four actresses/singers and two musicians. Writer Gibb has collaborated with Mairi Paton on the dozen songs which enhance the piece. The cast brings with it a wealth of experience from local operatice, musical and dramatic societies.

Gibb has used the device of the elder Mary (Lynne Binnie) looking back on her life from her home in Calabar, the younger Mary (Julia Walker) acts out the key chapters of her life, from her early days as a half-timer in Baxter Brothers Mill, her life with a brutal father, her involvement with the church and her call to be a missionary.

Tricia Stewart plays Mary's sister and fellow missionary, while Aileen Air is mother and a mission board member. There is a delightful couthiness to Mary who is phased by nothing from gangs in Dundee to witch doctors in Africa. Gibb's script shows her modern side, her pragmatism, her concern for people's rights and even her engagement (albeit brief) to a man nearly 20 years her junior.

The piece has a simple structure which makes it accessible and engaging. Lynne Binnie captures with ease the wisdom but self effacing nature of the older Mary while Julia Walker's younger version has the zeal of the younger.

John Nimmo's production is as yet a little slow but no doubt during the three-night run this will be remedied. First seen in Aberdeen, this is the Dundee premiere and all proceeds are going to the Mary Slessor Foundation.

© D C Thomson & Co., Ltd 2004



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