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WILLY Russell's acerbic, bittersweet comedy Stags and Hens has
been described as "a magnificent vulgar assault on the threadbare
idyll of young love and marriage".
Certainly it tackles all those
issues but essentially it's a 1978 night out with some Liverpool
lads and lasses that is funny and highly accessible.
The play
follows engaged couple Linda and Dave as they unwittingly roll
up at the same seedy club for their stag and hen parties.
It's an excellent vehicle for
the young cast of Attic theatre who turn in stand-out
performances in their new production directed by Tom Forbes
which opened at Aberdeen Arts Centre last night.
Veteran Attic Theatre fans
often talk about the golden age of the company as if it's long
gone.
I would urge them to catch
this production and see how a new generation does it with ease
and complete conviction.
If they can tighten up a
couple of loose Liverpool accents this could pass for a
professional production - it's so well drawn and paced.
This obviously has a lot to do with the direction and staging
which so simple and highly effective.
The cast is exceptional - they
gel together so well it's a refreshing delight. Sian Lamb
is superb as the cocky loudmouthed Bernadette and Keith Davidson
is brilliant as the shy boy Billy.
Stags and Hens
runs at Aberdeen Arts Centre until Friday.
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