one4review | On 14, Aug 2022

It’s Burns Night and heartbroken Emily has retreated to her Aunt’s cottage in Ayrshire to lick her wounds and to embark on a novel. A thunderstorm and the clattering of hooves herald the arrival of the ghost of Robert Burns. A disbelieving Emily questions Burns on his history, a subject close to her heart having completed a thesis on his works, whilst Burns tries to woo her with his bawdy charms and truly awful jokes. He finally wins her over and tries to help her write a tinder profile to help her move on romantically. They both realise that it’s not another man she needs to love, but she has to learn to love herself first. The play features the poems of songs of Burns with renditions of songs such as ‘Ae Fond Kiss’ and ‘My Love is Like a Red Red Rose’ and the audience are encouraged to join in when they sing the internationally famous ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

Gill McGowan and Colin McGowan spark off each other entertainingly in this tale by Gillian Duffy. I did find my mind wandering when Rabbie Burns asked what an app was and then was able to take a photo with an iPhone with no assistance – perhaps a sign that the drama was less gripping than it could have been. I also felt that some of the Burns bawdiness was rather forced and on the brink of being annoying. However, I did enjoy the hour on the whole and happily joined in with Auld Lang Syne along with the rest of the audience.

***

Reviewed by Rona

Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose – Other Yin

1pm (1hr)

Until 28th Aug (not 15th)