Review: MIDSUMMER (A PLAY WITH SONGS) at TheaterWorks

When David Greig and Gordon McIntyre's MIDSUMMER (A PLAY WITH SONGS) begins, and Helena (Rebecca Hart) and Bob (M. Scott McLean) enter the stage each with a guitar in their hands, the audience gets an immediate sense for what they are in for - a quirky, funny, frantic, beautiful, and somewhat unlikely love story told through scene and song.

By alternating their points of view, Bob and Helena tell the story of a fateful weekend in Edinburgh, which delves into the insecurities, perceived failures and deep needs of these two broken, but determined souls who seem inexplicably destined to be together.

But this is not your typical romantic comedy type affair. Helena is a lawyer, in a relationship that is not working out for her, and Bob, a "Piss Artist" and a small-time criminal with "no defining features" seemingly stuck in a life that he just can't break free from. The two meet, and though each tells it slightly differently, this fateful encounter leads them to a weekend full of drunken debauchery, worth "telling their grandchildren about."

And boy, what a weekend. Stolen pink convertibles, goth teenagers, a bum who preaches "you should never, ever, smoke", Japanese bondage, dancing lobsters, and a ruined wedding are just a few of the fantastic things Bob and Helena encounter together along the way. But they also truly connect in a way neither seems to have done before. And, unlikely as their pairing may be, they just fit.

The "songs" in this "play with songs" are what holds the story together. In small snippets, and in some cases, with both characters performing the same song in different contexts, the acoustic music creates a bond between Bob and Helena, and helps express the inner struggles both are dealing with as they journey together. But, unlike a traditional musical, the songs serve a purely emotional purpose, and do not carry the plot forward in any significant way. And the music itself is beautiful and poetic, with tight harmonies, and with a raw, Scottish feel. And each time they pick up their guitars, Ms. Hart and Mr. McLean do a wonderful job of expressing the soul of each song.

Tracy Brigden, who directed the production, utilizes the small, square stage and the two actors occupying it very effectively. Through use of simple props and the collection of furniture, signs, and found objects that form the set backdrop (artfully designed by Narelle Sissons) the audience is transported to rainy and dismal Edinburgh on this midsummer weekend, but in a way that seems almost dream-like.

The sound design by Elizabeth Atkinson also helps create a realistic feel for the various locations Bob and Helena visit around the city, and Andrew Ostrowski's lighting design sets a dark, almost sepia toned hue over the weekend adventures.

MIDSUMMER (A PLAY WITH MUSIC) is a great evening of theatre. On the intimate TheaterWorks stage, the audience gets up-close and personal with these two unlikely lovers as they work through their issues. And they (the audience) connects in a personal way with their struggles and their inevitable love. But there is only one week left for this simple, but beautiful story of two unlikely people and their wild weekend, so don't miss it.

Photo credits: Lanny Nagler

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