Review of Knives in Hens, National Theatre of Scotland

Jul 5 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

THE National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Knives in Hens, written by David Harrower and directed by Lies Pauwels, is pretty hard to follow but is an impressive and innovative production by the National Theatre of Scotland delivered with a huge amount of energy from the four-strong cast.

Its basic story is of a young country woman from times past, growing up, marrying a brute of a man, having a fling with another man, breaking free from the chains of her marriage and discovering a dark, dark side to her psyche.

Upon this base are thick layers of surrealism, physical theatre, cabaret and in-your-face sensuality which do not always take its audience along with them (the significance of the actress wearing a white rabbit head and passing silently across the back of stage has yet to become clear).

For much of the production I was waiting and wanting for it to make sense, while at the same time enjoying what was indeed an impressive performance set in what appears to be a mix of funfair, gymnasium and bar – again, the significance of these elements are muddling but become mostly relevant as the one-act play develops.

Susan Vidler gives an electrifying performance as the young wife and there’s no doubting Duncan Anderson’s authority as the cold ploughman husband who showers all his love on his horses. Owen Whitelaw makes the skin crawl as the sleazy miller, and Pauwels’ production brings in a fourth actor Vicki Manderson whose roles are never defined as she dances and struts her way through the influences on the characters in this ultimately deadly love triangle.

It all adds up to a love/hate relationship between audience and production, but there is no doubting its intensity, boldness and audacity in injecting this element of insanity into David Harrower’s 1995 work which is now acknowledged as a modern Scottish classic.

Knives in Hens opened at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh and was reviewed during its three-night run at Dundee Rep Theatre. Its tour closes at the Byre Theatre, St Andrews, next Friday and Saturday (July 15 and 16).

Alison Anderson