| Craving the American dream... |
At Sgript Cymru |
| Sgript Cymru- Indian Country , Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff , May 5, 2003 |
| Meic Povey’s Indian Country is a touching tale of unlikely relationships and friendships which also shows how a time gone by began to change. As an American film crew intrudes into the Snowdonian way of life for the filming of The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness, so Gregg Grosvenor escapes from his troubles on the set and enters the lives of 12-year old Mos and his recently widowed mother Gwyneth. What soon becomes evident is that while Mos and Gwyneth crave the excitement of the American dream, Gregg is equally as desperate for the stability offered by their simple farm life. So much so that his charms ultimately become too much for the Welsh farmwoman to resist. Eiry Thomas as Gwyenth sensitively portrays a woman tormented by the conflicting feelings of the memory of her late husband, her growing affection for the American and her desperation to save her farm from financial ruin. Her accent, weary-looking face and mannerisms bring a great deal to the role as does the eye contact between her and Gregg (Stuart Laing), which subtly shows how their relationship begins to change. In fact, some of the play’s most touching moments are those without words – the symbolic burying by Gwyneth of her late husband’s coat and later, Mos’ uncovering of it say more about the characters than a whole monologue could. Perhaps the strongest performance comes from Sion Pritchard in the role of Mos. A student at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, he successfully captures the essence of childhood innocence and the realisation of adult feelings. Much of the play’s implicit humour comes from his simple misunderstandings. Writer Meic Povey has already made a name for himself as one of Wales’ foremost Welsh language playwrights. This first attempt in English, staged by Sgript Cymru, marks him out as becoming an equally significant contributor to English language Welsh writing. As well as knowing how to create a moving story, his first-hand knowledge of his subject matter – such as the way Welsh influences how Gwyneth and Mos speak English – adds a dimension to the plot that only someone from the area could provide, making it all the more moving. Although the set is a little too basic, the intimate performance venue and the strength of both the acting and the script are proof that Sgript Cymru is growing stronger and stronger with each new production they stage. _________________________________________________ Indian Country is at Chapter Arts Centre until May 17. Contact the box office on 029 2030 4400. It will then visit Theatre Gwynedd, Bangor on May 21 (01248 351 707); Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold on May 23-24 (01352 755 114); Grand Theatre, Swansea on May 29-31 (01792 475 715); Aberystwyth Arts Centre on June 4 (01970 623232) and Neuadd Dwyfor, Pwllheli on June 6-7 (01758 704088) |
Reviewed by: Cathryn Scott |
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