Adapted by Dan Reballato
Directed by Hannah Bradley-Croall
Review by Hunter King
As the Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group explore the Russian Empire in their comedic adaptation of Gogol’s classic Dead Souls, it is only fitting that their production would be in the cold atmosphere of Bruntsfield’s Pianodrome. With that said, the EdinGrads warm the place up with their welcoming nature and tea and coffee station.
Dead Souls tells the story of Chichikov (Adrian Moore) who has come up with a scheme to acquire the deeds of serfs who have died on landowners property as a collateral to trick lenders into giving him a loan that he has no intention of paying back. Along the way, Chichikov encounters a barrage of larger-than-life individuals that he must persuade to give him the deeds of their dead souls. While Gogol’s work itself was one of satire, the adaptation that the EdinGrads have staged, penned by Dan Rebellato, is advertised to be a Monty Python-esque adaptation that puts the comedy forward.
Director and Designer, Hannah Bradley Croall approaches the show with a whimsy that is not usually present in classic Russian literature. While not exactly the described python-esque (aside from the classic banging of coconuts to imitate horse hooves), the comedy is certainly at the forefront of the story. The staging, while not always perfectly suited for a theatre in the round, is always entirely crisp. The movement not only feels intentional, but flows naturally, utilizing stage pieces like a rolling chest in innovative ways that may be reminiscent of Peter and the Starcatcher. The characters in the ensemble operate in a perfectly caricaturized way that always feels over the top, yet never feels wholly unrealistic or unwelcomed.
The technical elements of the show, while fitting, mostly take a back seat with this production, allowing the focus to land on witty dialogue and boisterous characters. With this said, some of the sound effects (especially early in the performance) could at times drown out performers and some light cues were a few seconds out of time. This never detracted from the story and could likely be chalked up to opening night fumbles.
Moore does an excellent job in the “straight-man” role of Chichikov, often harnessing the dry wit of Graham Chapman, along with the boyish charm of Daniel Radcliffe. His ever-progressing need for souls pushes him from a calm presence to a manic antihero by the end of the story. Accompanying him is Esther Gilvray as the narrator who maintains a stoic charm despite clearly struggling throughout the performance for some of her lines.
The ensemble is the lifeblood of this production, with notable standouts being Linda Orr as the ever-curious and sometimes downright dopey Korobochka, and John Moore as the boisterous and intimidating Sobakevich. Meanwhile, Steven Bradley Croall brings a physical performance that borders on clowning with his role of Kostanzhoglo, leaving the crowd with some of its biggest laughs of the night.
As has come to be expected, the EdinGrads run like a well-oiled machine in a show that maintains a momentum that will keep audiences giggling and engaged through the full performance.
Will Keep you Engaged and Giggling
Dead Souls runs at Pianodrome
Running time – Two hours and five minutes with interval
Photo credit – Robin Mair
Review by Hunter King (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Hunter is a 2024 Master’s graduate of the University of Edinburgh and current doctoral candidate with a thesis focused on experimental theatre in Edinburgh. He has been a theatre practitioner for over a decade having worked in many capacities including as a director, actor, stage manager, front of house manager, and technician as well as others. Prior to moving to Edinburgh, Hunter was a high school English teacher in the United States. His passion for the written word as well as his passion for live performance are what motivated him to become a writer for this publication.
