| Confusion and lack of confidence |
At Sgript Cymru |
| Sgript Cymru- Franco's Bastard , Chapter Arts Centre , April 19, 2002 |
| Although loosely based around the character of Julian Cayo Evans, the notorious leader of the Free-Wales Army, after an extensive amount of controversy, it seems that after a few minor similarities aside, Carlo’s character (James Coombes) is little more than a device created by Edwards to convey his discomposure at most people living in Wales. He seems to have split the entire population into a number of stereotypes, each suffering with a considerable amount of imperfection and very few positive attributes. I wonder if there was anyone sat in the audience who did not feel offended and disgusted by the characters he had created. The other characters were representations of each of these stereotypes, - in the play to be ridiculed or insulted whilst holding on to a very loose and far-fetched narrative. All this aside, the actual performance made the best of what was given, with convincing characterisations, conscientious direction and a set that really gave the impression of Carlo’s West Walean estate where the big ‘project’ was to be undertaken. Serena (Karen Diamond) is brought to the estate by Carlo to play the part of his mistress (or maybe his mother, as within minutes of being there he is encouraging her to wear his dead mother’s flamboyant dresses), as every true hero must have a heroine. We see from the start that this whole scenario is a complete farce considering he picked her up at a bar in Cardiff! Shane Attwood plays Sion, Carlo’s slightly stupid but dedicated sidekick brilliantly. His dedication turns to obsession and then violence when Ben (Adam Randall) becomes the focus of the project and so he can do nothing but resort to childish behaviour to win back Carlo’s affection. The main point that Edwards conveyed to the audience through ‘Franco’s Bastard’ is that he believes that the Welsh are a very confused nation. The line between Nationalism and Fascism seems blurred resulting in a nation of anger and hate towards everyone else, even each other. However, this is simply not the case. The play only emphasised Edwards’s confusion and lack of confidence in Wales and his own ‘Welshness’. The fact that the mix of different people in Wales is getting more diverse, whether they are black, white, Spanish, homosexual, simply from a different part of Wales or even, low and behold, English, this can only result in a more educated, accepting nation. Admittedly there are problems that need to be addressed, but the negativity of this play can only cause people to leave the auditorium feeling distressed and let down by their country. |
Reviewed by: Victoria Cooper |
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