Bailegangaire (The Town Without Laughter)

Bailegangaire serves as a major conclusion for the Arches Theatre Company. Not only does it wrap up the company's Irish Classics season (which began at the Citz with Translations) but it also marks the end of an era for Scottish theatre: it is the final production director Andy Arnold will create as artistic director of the company he founded.

Though not as great a production as some of Arnold's recent work, Bailegangaire, with its themes of family, loss, escape and responsibility, is a worthy production to conclude his Arches tenure.

The play follows an evening with three women. Mommo, a one-time famed storyteller, is suffering from dementia. She is currently being cared for by her granddaughter, former nurse Mary. Dolly, Mary's younger sister and Mommo's previous carer, stops by for short visits. Combining humour and pathos, the play follows the relationships between the women and the demands that they place on one another.

As the character driving the plot suffers from senility, dramatic action cannot quickly progress and the threads of plot are at times difficult to follow, which can be frustrating. The audience has to concentrate, as not all of the clues are easily given. This may alienate some audience members but those who actively engage with the production will be rewarded at the end.

All three performances are solid. Muireann Kelly's portrayal of Mary gives a nice balance of nurturing carer and frustrated family member, someone who wants to make the patient comfortable but still clings to the role of granddaughter. Kathleen MacInnes is equally good as Dolly, a character who is far more interesting and intelligent than one originally perceives. But it is the hard work of Kay Gallie as Mommo that truly shines. She spends the vast majority of the play propped in a bed and has to fade in and out of memory, concentration and interaction. She creates a character that is both funny and heartbreaking, making her a pleasure to watch.

The production is quickly paced and feels fresh. Hazel Blue's set is well-designed with its mix of old and modern furnishings and a tiny window that shows the occasional passing car.

Buoyed by three great performances, Bailegangaire proves to be a good evening's theatre. As it is a play about personal endings and beginnings, it is also a fitting conclusion to Andy Arnold's leadership of The Arches.