Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off @ The Lyceum Theatre

Throughout Liz Lockhead's masterful and almost Shakespearian study of power politics, the two queens and two nations are kept apart, yet work towards one tragedy. Like opposite sides of a boxing ring, one side of the stage represents Scotland, and the other, England. In one corner, Elizabeth: Queen of England, Protestant, strong-willed and extremely dedicated to her duties. In the opposite corner, Mary: Queen of Scots, Catholic, young, inexperienced and thrown into the fray that is 16th century Scotland. Tony Cownie directs in such a fashion that the stage becomes a divided television screen, with action happening on either side of the divide – albeit never at the same time. 

Aside from the comic blowups in the script, the actors themselves demonstrate flexibility and aptitude through playing multiple roles. For example, Shauna Macdonald stars as Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth's servant, and a member of the ensemble. The switch becomes easy through intelligent use of props and clothing, allowing them to step out of one character and into another. The exuberant amount of roles doesn't seem to present any difficulties for this fairly small cast.

A combination of modern-day props and period costume is used. For example, Lord Bothwell struts about carrying a golf club, while the doomed Signor Riccio wears a bright blue frill yet uses a typewriter. This serves up Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off as a metaphorical modernised Aesop's fable for those dabbling in politics and current affairs. [Daph Karroulla]