@ Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, until Sat 9 May 2015
Govanhill has a reputation within Glasgow; one which is the subject of surreal new Douglas Maxwell play, Fever Dream: Southside. Directed by Dominic Hill, this hilarious stream of bizarrity addresses fear and community regeneration in an area overshadowed by a notorious kidnapping and murder.
The Southside community is coming together at the Govanhill Baths under the banner of a missing girl, whilst an American missionary prepares to take on its monsters with the help of an imaginary pterodactyl. Sleep-deprived parents consider leaving for the countryside as they face the prospect of raising a child against a soundtrack of police sirens. With his eye on them is Raj, a seedy property mogul who wants to buy out their entire close by helping push down the prices in the area and making it as undesirable as possible. Giving in to Raj would continue the trend of nice families moving away from the area rather than staying to make something of it, undermining the philosophy of the Govanhill Baths project in its attempts to regenerate the community. As we’re presented with an eccentric parade of characters whose stories eventually overlap we’re asked to question the issue of safety in the community and decide – is Govanhill worth fighting for?
The play has some hilarious moments and witty local observations, brought together by an energetic cast and excellent live musicians. Magical realism gives us a strange window into the lives of some seemingly quite unreal characters, and an imaginative set evokes important local landmarks. Though steeped in local references, the play is still enjoyable for those who don’t know the area. Thoroughly entertaining throughout, it falls short once the second act gets underway, however, and fails to resolve in a meaningful way which might classify it as pure genius. Even though it lacks a certain punch, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable journey.