COMEDY DRAMA

Showing @ Traverse Theatre, times vary, until 28th Aug

Four 60s pop princesses take the lead in documenting Duck Macatarsney’s difficult life; and with the impending visit from the dreaded social worker, it’s clear that today isn’t going to be a good day. David Greig’s The Monster in the Hall is a bleakly comic ensemble piece tracking the story of a sixteen-year-old carer’s anxiety over her ill father and her trouble accepting her mother’s death.
 
Greig writes with a strong sense of truth as he understands that Duck is not only her father’s carer, but more importantly a teenager who faces a mountain of other challenging situations before coming home to her Dad. Director Guy Hollands runs a tightly controlled outfit and, with only four actors playing a collection of characters, the energy and speed the cast works at is applaudable. Gemma McElhinney’s performance as the innocent Duck is beautiful; it’s through her character that the grim realisation of teen carers’ situations really hits you: juggling school, her father and the prospect of giving a public blow job behind the chippy, McElhinney captures the inexperience, yet headstrong determination many adolescents understand. The monster in Duck’s life comes in the form of a vintage motorbike that her father is repairing, but it also acts as a symbol for Duck’s fear of the future. As her father’s health deteriorates and she faces the prospect of going into care, the show follows Duck as she fights to stay in her family home. With social work leaflets galore, Greig has created something that is serious yet fun, and as you begin to crack up at the surreal gags and interseceded song vignettes, you are quickly reminded that things are only going to get worse!