Showing @ Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, until Sat 1 Nov @ 19:30
There is an assurance that comes with seeing a foreign language film at the cinema: subtitles. It removes the fear of not knowing what’s happening, or following the dialogue. Theatre doesn’t always have that safety net. Arguably, any piece of art that relies so heavily on text alone is doing something wrong; we should be able to follow the story and sentiments regardless. White Stag’s production of Fantom is a Gaelic drama, accessible for non-Gaelic speakers.
Kenny Macrae’s play is based on the legend of a serial killer who terrorised inhabitants of Harris and Lewis in the early nineteenth century. In Macrae’s retelling, Alasdair is thrown out of his home and sent to Lewis to find work, and reclaim the love of his life, Lili (MJ Deans). Neither of these happen as easily as Alasdair (Artair Donald) thinks, and his frustration and desperation for love, food and money send him to extremity.
Liz Carruthers’ production is performed in the round. A bare set that consists of three black boxes is the playing field of the three actors who multi-role play their way through the story. Costume changes and props denote the switch between characters. Live music is performed by Annie Grace, which underscores the drama and the cast deliver an energetic performance. The story is episodic in structure, and a synopsis of each scene is given to the audience at the beginning. The brief summaries are fleshed out by the expression, delivery and direction; the language barrier very quickly dissolves. Despite a bracing start, the play is tame, lacking in the thrill or terror you might expect from a dark Scottish legend. It does, however, prove that theatre has the capacity to communicate with audiences using much more than just language – a victory in itself.