Burgeoning theatre company Tightlaced has thus far made an impression by living within its means, offering workshop material and rehearsed readings to showcase new talent. With Charlie and My ’45 they’ve gone one step further, implementing feedback from the first reading and giving the results a public trial.
Playwright Robert Howat takes on the central role himself, and gives a hugely amiable performance as Jacobite soldier Jamie who – sumptuously costumed by JoJo Lewis – tells us of his revelations in the service of Charles Edward Stuart.
Tightlaced challenge the stigma attached to the phrase ‘work in progress’, effectively proving that there is much to look forward to from them and their affiliated talent
At times it may seem that this tale of loyalty and courage has suffered from the meddling of its first test audience. The original concept was a solo piece, and Jamie’s witty narrations continue to be the definite highlights, whilst the recently introduced female characters – a wife and a whore, naturally – verge on being bothersome interruptions whose presence seems underdeveloped. Nevertheless, Adrienne Zitt’s enthusiastic performance in both roles serves to remind us of their potential.
The plot itself is engaging and, while director Jennifer McGregor evokes ‘Tartan and Shortbread history’ in her notes, she manages to avoid cloying nationalist sentimentality. Jamie keeps his political and personal lives at a distance, and the frank note of disillusionment on which this demo version ends promises a play which encourages us to do the same.
As well as marking Charlie as something to look out for in future listings, Tightlaced Theatre’s small-scale but highly professional production challenges the stigma attached to the phrase ‘work in progress’, effectively proving that there is much to look forward to from them and their affiliated talent.