Shakers presented by The Edinburgh Graduates Theatre Group (The Grads) proves that ‘Amateur Companies’ can produce theatre that is not only the equal of professional companies but often surpasses a majority of Fringe offerings. Every audience member came out of the show with a huge grin on their face, praising this funny, yet poignant production.
Shakers by John Godber and Jane Thornton has been revised several times since first produced in the 1980s but this version is set firmly in Scotland and the director Hilary Spiers has given us a gift of an adaption. Using Scottish voices and vernacular, led to some comical colloquialisms and it was a joy to hear such ’local language’ delivered with aplomb. The costumes including tartan bow ties and ‘trews’, ‘big hair’, dodgy makeup and some classic 80s songs punctuating the action, rooted us in a time and place.
The simple set worked well within the constraints of this performance space, set forward of the stage, with a bar, a few cocktail shakers, back lit sign and some bar tables and chairs we were introduced to ‘Shakers’, “the place to be”. For one, touching moment, the raised stage at the back of the space was used very effectively. But it was the actors who did all the work making us feel like we were slap bang in the middle of a busy night at ‘Shakers’.
The 4 actors: Nicola Hamilton, Eilidh Smith, Lois Williams and Rhona O’Donnell were outstanding. They not only played the waitresses but physically embodied a range of the customers from the boorish TV execs to the supermarket girls getting ready for ‘Mandy’s 21st etc. Each character was nailed, physically and verbally with ‘wicked’ truth. Whilst we all loved laughing at the absurdity of the caricatures, we were equally enthralled when the inner life of each ‘waitress’ is revealed during the touching monologues. Amidst the laughter, difficult issues these woman experienced were also raised that are sadly, just as relevant today.
Cutting the full length play down to an hour meant the action was concentrated and the high energy and pace kept the audience hooked throughout. The director, Hilary Spiers has worked hard with these skilled actors to exploit every conceivable funny moment in this play and then some. Shakers is a theatrical delight.
