Meet Jan Black
Written by Johnny McKnight
Directed by Jack Nurse
Friday 2nd April 2021
Online from The Gaiety Theatre, Ayr
Review by The Wee Ghostie.
For this theatre starved critic, in the time of Covid, the opportunity to see a new comedy written by one of Scotland’s top comedy writers, Johnny McKnight, and starring Maureen Beattie live from the Gaiety Theatre, Ayr, was too much to miss.
Sure, this was going to be online, but it was live, and it ticked all the boxes; quality writer, quality star, and directed by Jack Nurse (of the innovative and exciting company Wonder Fools), and it was also utilising actors from local amateur companies to give it additional community box office pull.
There was a challenge here.
Theatre lovers have been forced to get their fix by going online to seek out recorded performances from all over the world and have become used to seeing the best from the top companies.
Could Meet Jan Black rise to such a standard?
Well, at least it would still have the advantage of being a live performance and the edge that that brings.
The story sees Jan (Maureen Beattie) trying to drag am-dram company, the ‘Gaiety Whirlers’ back to rehearsals after a Covid enforced year-long break, a difficult year for all, and one that had seen them all part on not the best of terms. Interpersonal relationships are strained, and these are exacerbated by the frustrations of an online zoom style meeting (we’ve all been there).
This simple description does not do the production justice.
There are many layers within the text.
This is not just a gentle comedy, it deftly dissects and lays bare relationships, our angers, and tragedies.
Writer, Johnny McKnight, shows great insight into the world of am-dram and those who take part, the frustrations of living in a time of Covid, and much more importantly, the human condition.
McKnight drops little hints that there is something darker overhanging Jan’s journey then expertly and, at first imperceptibly, transitions the piece from comedy to pathos, and a resultant compassionate response.
Maybe the title was the give-a-way.
Meet Jan Black is so close to the title of the 1998 film Meet Joe Black where the lead character is, in fact, Death.
Was this intentional foreshadowing?
Was it a portent of the death of the ‘Whirlers’, or live theatre itself?
Well, it could be… but there is much more. This is a journey of personal enlightenment, the realisation of theatre as a community, and that we do not do so well without the support of others. As Jan (Maureen Beattie) initially walks out onto the stage, we see a shot of the empty Gaiety auditorium, it shouts loss, emptiness, and isolation, a description and metaphor for theatre itself and for Jan’s condition.
Maureen Beattie was superb, balancing the needs of her on-stage reality with her interactions with the recorded cast on screens.
She expertly juggled the tone of her voice, stage projection when it seemed necessary, then skipping seamlessly to a more natural tone that benefitted her asides to camera (ala Phoebe Waller-Bridge in the TV series, Fleabag).
The use of, may I coin a phrase, ‘Fleabagging’, bridged the gap between stage and TV that could have been problematic, and acknowledged that this was a different medium not purely stage.
Its use and confidential manner, to express Jan’s internalised thoughts, did much to drive the play forward, create greater understanding and build an understanding of Jan’s character.
Before the production, Maureen Beattie had mused about the challenge of playing to an empty auditorium, but she needn’t have worried, she shone, she controlled, and she added energy to what could have been a flat atmosphere.
Her on-screen supporting actors also have to take great credit for the entertaining nature of the show.
The advert for participants requested their sense of fun, their voices, and all the energy that flows through their community companies: they got all this plus more.
We knew all the characters, every am-dram company has a mix of these.
Some were annoying, all opinionated, some not too bright, some wanting to perform, some believing they were stars, others only wanting a social life.
These characters were expertly drawn and distinct, and well brought to life.
Special mention must go to Marie McWilliams, whose worn out, fed up, and resigned Moira seemed to encapsulate everything that is a real-life lockdown mother.
Another highlight was the personal interaction between Jan and her former boyfriend John (played by Nick Wakeham).
This sad, intimate, and painful conversation not only showed Maureen Beattie changing gear from angry, hurt, and defensive, to vulnerable. Beattie and Wakeham conjured up a moment of magic… there were no amateurs here, only skilled actors.
The technical aspects of this show were well handled, clear video, crisp audio, underplayed lighting that was perfect for the piece, and a simple stage layout of one platform, with screens behind that allowed full screen or multiple character video.
So, did Meet Jan Black rise to the high standards of some other online productions?
It would be wrong to suggest that this was the best, but it did reach a high standard and was great entertainment deserving of an audience.
Oh, and, by the way, just don’t expect perfect singing.
Meet Jan Black airs for the final time tonight from 7.30pm - tickets from www.ayrgaiety.co.uk
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