Traverse, Edinburgh
Three stars
On the face of it, AJ Taudevin's small-scale
touring show takes the form of a ten-a-penny issue play. Produced in
association with the Scottish Refugee Council,
it is a single-set 75-minute drama about a mother and her ten-year-old daughter
who have escaped persecution in a "broken" West African country and
found themselves in the relative safety of a Glasgow tower block in sore need
of renovation. There's black mould on the walls and community spirit has been
bulldozed out of existence. Life, as one of the neighbours says, is "one
long symphony of fuck".
We duly meet the well-meaning but ineffectual
social worker and discover that the boorish loud-mouth of a neighbour actually
has a heart of gold. So far so familiar. But Some Other Mother stands out in
two significant ways.
The first is in Taudevin's interest in the
psychological wounds inflicted by the immigration system. This flat is less a
place of refuge than a cell providing momentary respite from a debilitating
fear. Every half-understood letter is a threat, every knock on the door signals
danger, every offer of help seems like a trick.
For young Star, it leads to nightmares,
distracted behaviour and the arrival of dog-man, an imaginary friend who gives
voice to her most violent and profane impulses. For Mama, with her rudimentary
grasp of English, it leads to defensiveness, aggression and sleepless nights.
As a study of mental ill health brought about by an unforgiving system, it is
sad and distressing.
The second stand-out aspect is the strength of
the four performances under the direction of Catrin Evans. Shvorne Marks as the
girl and Joy Elias-Rilwan as her mother are luminous and unsentimental, their
anger focused and unapologetic. Just as good are Pauline Knowles and Billy Mack
in a production that hits harder than its modest premise portends.
©Mark Fisher
At MacRobert, Stirling, 12 June (01786
466666) and out tour until 27 June. Details: someothermotherplay.wordpress.com
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