The subjects of religion and sacrifice dominate Ella Hickson’s Soup, a short study of a father’s inability to adapt to changing times, and his effect on his family. When Dan (Finn Den Hertog) returns to his Morningside home unexpectedly from University during the Easter weekend, he discovers his father, James (John McColl) has quit his job as a film critic and started drinking heavily. But with his Minister mother, Annie (Bridget McCann) distracted by the impending Easter celebrations, Dan attempts to help his father, with painful results.

Natalie Ibu’s production of Hickson’s A Play, A Pie and A Pint debut is a brief glimpse into the lives of a modern middle class family, as they face several life changing decisions. Peppered with themes of addiction, denial and religion, Soup contrasts the issues of the traditional vs. the modern trend, as James struggles to lose his tenacious grip on print journalism in favour of the growing field of internet journalism. But while Hickson brought some very relevant cultural points to the theatre audience, it was her attempt to juxtapose the actions of James and Dan to those of the Easter story that let the play down, as Hickson’s tale of a man unable to advise his only son, leads him to figuratively lose him, and led to the play’s unsatisfying ending.

Showing @traverse until Sat 20th Mar 13:00