Castle Lennox at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
The multitude of real-life stories that inspired Linda McLean to write Castle Lennox are as frightening as they are disturbing, but the realisation of them in this co-production between Lung Ha Theatre Company and The Lyceum leaves us with a degree of hope.
Delayed for three years by Covid, Maria Oller’s production of Castle Lennox tells the story of life inside a mental hospital from the 1960s through to the 80s. It focuses on one patient, Annis, beautifully and sympathetically played by Emma McCaffrey, who, with the best of intentions, is placed in the ‘care’ of the hospital.
It soon becomes clear that the outside rules do not apply. To modern eyes, it hardly seems possible that patients were bullied, chastised and restricted by what we would now describe as cruel staff, but this production shows that horror in full colour. Fletcher Mathers doesn’t flinch from the reality in her truthful portrayal of the vengeful staff nurse. Fortunately, for Annis, she finds solace amongst the other residents, who, in a wonderfully talented and diverse ensemble, pull together to soften the blows of this harsh regime.
Simple songs (music by Michael John McCarthy) are effectively peppered throughout, with everyone participating either by singing or playing an instrument to enhance the onstage band. There is much joy to counter the cruelty, and by the end, the audience is rooting for Annis that she’ll live an easier life outside the walls of this fearsome institution.
The audience rose to its feet in appreciation of this moving and important piece of documentary theatre.
Steven Wren
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.