A Singular Deception
★★★☆☆ Medical mystery
The Royal Scots Club (Venue 241): Mon 5 – Sat 10 Aug 2024
Review by Florence Cruickshanks
Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group mark their 70th year with A Singular Deception, a new play by company member Hilary Spiers which is the first of two shows at the Royal Scots Club for Week One of the Fringe.
Edinburgh is associated with some of the most celebrated medical pioneers – Lister, Simpson and Fleming, as well as some, such as Knox, acquaintance of Burke and Hare, of less positive reputations. But the story of Dr James Barry, the subject of Spiers’ script, is less well known. The reason for this apparent neglect becomes apparent over the course of the play.
Jac Wheble and Kenneth Brangman. PIc: Howard Elwyn Jones
Compressing Dr Barry’s life, achievements and challenges into a 75 minute two hander is a challenge. Inevitably some material, on the doctor’s considerable achievements in social policy and public health reform, is only briefly covered. In addition, nothing is said of the doctor’s early life before Edinburgh University. But the production and acting compensate for any omissions.
The intimate space of the Hepburn Suite at the Royal Scots Club is cleverly utilised to provide the background to this strange story, with the set draped in shroud like sheeting at the start and lilt by Gordon Hughes.
There is a strong rapport between Jac Wheble and Kenneth Brangman, under direction of Spiers. They are convincing in the roles of the arrogant yet vulnerable doctor, the loyal manservant, and a range of other small parts, as they relate the vicissitudes of Dr Barry’s career, wide travels with the army, death – and the ensuing scandal, with aplomb.
Flora Henderson provides appropriate onstage musical and animal sound support, accompanying the global travel of the two characters and the doctor’s dog, with sound by Richard Spiers.
Running time: One hour and 15 minutes (no interval)
The Royal Scots Club (The Hepburn Suite), 29-31 Abercromby Place, EH3 6QE (Venue 241)
Monday 5 – Saturday 10 August 2024
Daily at 7pm.
Tickets and details: Book here
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Kenneth Brangman and Jac Wheble. PIc: Howard Elwyn Jones
ENDS
