Trainspotting @ Subi Arts Centre

BlakYak has a reputation for doing great shows that no-one sees. So I thought I'd do something a little different and provide you with a review BEFORE the show actually opens. The director, Danni Ashton, asked me to go along to a rehersal this week and cast a "fresh eye" over it. I have no other connection to the show. I'm not even a member of BlakYak. (Apologies in advance for the terrible spelling.) Despite the fact that the rehersal took place under fluros and in a tiny space between stacks of chairs, the quality really shone through. It's going to be fantastic under lights on a proper stage. The actors are incredibly committed to an extremely challenging piece, not only grappling sucessfully with Scottish accents, but also with very graphic dialouge and drug use. This show is not for the faint hearted, but I think most people will know that before they buy their tickets. The original script has been cut down considerably to get it under 50 minutes and it has become unavoidably more episodic for that reason. That might annoy some audience members, particularly Welsh purists, but for me the quality of the acting and material overcame this. The acting really is great. I worked with Clinton Ward-Horner recently in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Old Mill, but nothing he did there (with a very small role) prepared me for his heartbreaking interpretation of Tommy. I feel that I owe him an apology for not knowing he had it in him. Singling Clint out is by no means a comment on the other three actors (Murray Jackson, Daniel Kershaw and Krysia Wiechecki) who are really excellent, especially in the hilarious first scene. I know this review is not been particularly in-depth, but I have not yet seen the completely finished product. When I saw it some props were missing and it wasn't in a proper space. However I recommend that if you've been meaning to see a Blak Yak show and not got around to it, and you're not easily offended, you should book. It opens next week at the Subiaco Arts Centre and only runs for a few nights.