Storytelling: A Play, a Pie and a Pint at the Lemon Tree, Aberdeen

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A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.

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I’ve often seen the offer of a play, pie and a pint by Aberdeen Performing Arts but never actually made it along.  It’s terribly good value for £12.50 per person.  You do get a choice of drinks so you don’t have to have a pint, if you prefer a glass of wine or a soft drink for the drivers!  As for the pies we were given a choice of mince or macaroni and there was the option of gravy, or various sauces.  The doors open from an hour before to give you time to enjoy your refreshments before the play starts at the given time, there was even an ice cream seller wandering around if you wanted ice cream for dessert!  We were a bit later arriving than many so had a seat quite far back but the wonderful thing about the Lemon Tree is that you’re never too far from the stage.

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As for Storytelling, the play itself, this was an entertaining piece written by Oliver Emanuel and directed by Finn Den Hertog.  It was all about the life and imminent ending of a man called Robert.  He was 44 any led a fairly decent life but one day he decided that today should be the last day.  The story was told along with the mechanics of storytelling so we learned about the protagonist, plot twists, and that stories are all made up and you can change the ending or the content as you go along; but that it has to be true to the story of the characters.

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The back drop for the stage was a big white board with many different items on it.  These each had a place in the story as it progressed – the wee cows for when Robert went for a walk in a field, a bubble gun for one of his more interesting flashbacks.  Each piece was brought out as the story required it, and once it had been used it was placed at the front of the stage, and so you had the progression of Robert’s journey or story.

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There are only two actors in this piece, Martin Donaghy and Francesca Hess, but they work together beautifully.  Totally coordinated, moving around each other on the stage as the script required, each with their own part of the narrative  and their own props to introduce.  Interestingly quite often Robert was voiced by the actress rather than the actor.  Both wore matching green shirts, obviously all being thought carefully in advance so to add to the togetherness of the play.

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The main part which stood out for me was when Robert was asked “Are you alright?” by his children the morning the story took place.  Both actors repeated this phrase over and over, eventually coming out into the audience and asking some of them.  It’s one of those phrases that we often say, and usually just answer “fine” or “aye” without thinking.  Different ways in which Robert could have answered were played out and it showed the power of words – or the lack of them.  Very thought provoking.

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It was certainly well worth seeing as a piece of theatre but also a lovely “package deal”; and I must say that for a date night it was quite nice to be home before 8pm!  Storytelling is on all week but other plays with pies and pints will follow so keep an eye out for them.

Further information: https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/ppp-storytelling-by-oliver-emanuel/

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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.

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