CATHY, TRAVERSE THEATRE, EDINBURGH FRINGE
★★★★★
“Smith transports her audience from hilarity to heartache in the turn of a phrase…”
Elaine C Smith is glorious in Eilidh Loan’s dark new comedy, Cathy, transporting audiences from hilarity to heartache in the turn of a phrase. As the eponymous granny, Smith is fiercely funny, devastatingly bereft while always ensuring that authenticity lives in every moment.
Dedicated to her own Granny Cathy, Loan weaves real heart into this tale of a recently bereaved Glasgow matriarch. Cathy’s life with Tommy may have been a sectarian clash of cultures but in a city where never the twain shall meet, true love overcame Orange Order and Roman Catholic traditions allowing them to live and love together for 50 years. Now, with Tommy taken by cancer, Cathy must come to terms with her loss… and much more.
As a play, Cathy’s story is an appealing one. A roller-coaster of emotions that ultimately lead to tender elation, Cathy screams it’s Scottish roots and has the potential to become another Steamie.
Loan’s writing is sharp, endearing and knowing and Smith, who recently said that if she ‘can make people laugh’, she can ‘take them to the darkest of places’, own’s the text to do just that in an often staggeringly emotionally raw performance. With faultless comic timing she also ensures that every laugh lands as she spars verbally with her family.
Played out on Kenny Miller’s ingenious set design, Smith receives gallant support from Michelle Gallagher as conflicted daughter Flo, Alan Orr as son-in-law Colin and Sally Reid, who adds to the sentiment of the piece as scatty charity shop worker, Lizzie.
However, it’s Chloe Hodgson, as peace-keeping grand-daughter, Amy, who matches Smith every step of the way. Their chemistry is immaculate as is Hodgson’s singing – her haunting rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone at the top of the show stills the audience in a heartbeat.
Directing, Loan ensures the pacing never drops with moments of outrageous humour contrasting the deepest tragedy; Gay Jesus and lightsabre routines are impeccably positioned and rightly receive uproarious receptions. Similarly, it’s a deserved standing ovation that awaits the cast as they take their bow.
As feelgood tragedies go, Cathy delivers, so don’t be surprised if we’ve not seen the last of this particular Glasgow granny.
Full details and tickets HERE
