1724

1724

The history on which this production is based was one I had never heard of and after watching this spellbinding production it prompted me to read up on “The Galloway Levellers”.

In 1724 what had become a regular action by landowners in building dykes to parcel off their land into fields to allow more economical and therefore more profitable use came to a head. Small tenant farmers started to be evicted when their rent came up for review so the landowners could take back the croft and incorporate it into their ownership and thus get the use of the land for their own purposes e.g. the farming of cattle. Many of the tenant farmers rose in revolt and carried out peaceful protest by knocking down the dykes as they were built and they became know as “The Galloway Levellers”. The period covered by this production is about a year from when the Levellers became more active to early 1725 when military intervention and arrests took place so that the protests petered out. I would recommend you to read up on this period. Now in the words of our own famous Bard “But to our Tale”

This production has been written by The Fullarton’s own Allan and Janet Scott and I was intrigued to see this show and how they dealt with this difficult historical scenario. Well, I was not disappointed. The cast were all excellent showing the various facets of emotion from the panic and tearful emotion from being evicted to the highs and lows of attending the local fair and ultimately the serious challenges faced by them for what to do with their futures. There were some light hearted moments during the production and I particularly liked the way the simple set was changed along with the use of dialogue. The accomplished cast ably assisted by the stage crew did all the scene changes and they were all very slick.

Bob Dobie, the Lairds factor played by Tommy Thomson, was sympathetic in his dealing with the tenants but yet had to do his job or else he would be one of them too - out of a job with no prospects to look forward to.

The Dalgliesh family, the tenant farmers evicted from their smallholding - Alec (Gavin Miller), Maggie (Stephanie Drummond), Annie their daughter (Meghan Whalen) and Granny (Kay Potts) - produced all the whole gambit of emotions you would expect in such a situation, from anger, to tearfulness, to panic, to acceptance of their lot to the joy of the fair and these were superbly portrayed by this family. Maggie’s concern for her husband getting involved with the Levellers, and their future along with Granny’s comedic interjections which lightened the seriousness of the family’s situation were so well done that you felt drawn into it and felt for them so that I laughed and nearly cried a couple of times. The difficult decisions they had to make regarding their future from will we stay or will we go to the town to look for work was sympathetically dealt with but still had a hard edge to it.

The Laird and his wife – wonderfully played by Jim Gordon and Cath Monk were the good cop bad cop couple. The Lady was more callous and concerned with their finances and good standing that she appeared to not give a jot for their tenants but the Laird was sympathetic and compassionate about it all, yet realised his own future was on the line if he didn’t do something to increase the value of his Estate.

Jean and Drew McLellan, Maggie’s’ sister and brother-in-law were also superbly played by Joyce Reekie and Brian McArthur. Jeans resent at her sister’s family imposing themselves on them because they had nowhere else to go was eventually tempered from being strict and her rules in the house to one of a relaxed relationship with them as they settled in together.

Peg McMinn the local shopkeeper/busybody was excellently played by Alison Murdoch and I liked the interaction between her and Granny and their comedy timing and throw away comments helped to lighten the load of this otherwise quiet dark subject.

Davie and Beth Kirkpatrick, once more played superbly by Jason Reekie and Liz Black, are drawn into this situation when Davie’s parents commit suicide rather than have their house and farm taken from them. Davie becomes one of the Levellers too and they all become involved with each other.

The interactions between all the individual characters and their family groups were so well written that it all jelled together and with the superb backdrop projections which enhanced the storyline (I liked the tear in the fabric of time) and the original music and choreography in the lighter moments that I was surprised when it came to an end as I was so involved with it, I was sure it couldn’t have finished. This show deserves to be seen by more than just the audiences who attended and I thank everyone at The Fullerton for putting on such a thought provoking and well produced performance.

Thank you for a most enjoyable, entertaining and educational evening.

 

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