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Tony Roper's play is by way of being a modern classic of Scottish theatre, so it needs no introduction. It has little in the way of plot but does have beautifully developed characters and Roper manipulates our emotions very effectively, taking us from amusement to pathos and back again, leaving us with an immense admiration for these hard-working but always cheerful women.
All depends on the actors: without strong performances, the play could easily become tedious, but the four actresses - veteran Catherine Steel, Marianne Muir, Yvonne Waring and Fiona McLaren - along with the one male Ryan Gemmell do not disappoint. They give a very satisfying ensemble performance, no one dominating in any way but working together to give a clear picture of the lives and characters of the women of three working class Glasgow generations.
The audience loved it, and justifiably so, for Practical Magic's production pleases on all levels. Unfortunately it only runs for a week, so the majoroty of Fringegoers will miss out on an excellent piece of theatre.
Peter Lathan
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