Raspberry Review Highlights!
What the press said: Raspberry
Sunday Herald
‘’…if, like me, you remember vividly where you were when you heard of Dury’s death, Garry Robson’s musical theatre piece is for you…’’
‘’…Robson in fine Dureyesque form…’’
‘’…an engaging 75 minutes of theatre…by way of Gordon Dougall’s tight directing and Leigh Stirling’s fabulously diverse musical score, which surfs Dury’s
New Wave and touches on punk, country and western, and many other genres besides…’’
The Herald
‘’…Jem Dobbs is toweringly obdurate and yet sadly wretched as the Dad, who only wants Raspberry (Christine Bruno) to be perfect…’’
‘’…A roguishly droll Robson wheels on-stage…unleashes a swaggering flow of broadsides against society’s way of defining a person by their disease…’’
‘’…Sally Clay, David Stickman Higgins and Jamie Duffin power out Leigh Stirling’s musical pastiches, their energies and Robson’s blistering wit combining superbly…’’
‘’…it’s the music that creates the really thought provoking ripples…’’
The Scotsman
‘’…the play is suffused with a punkish plea for inclusion and the acceptance of difference…’’
‘’…entertaining throughout, with Robson harnessing Dury’s mischievous spirit rather than striving for an impersonation…’’
The Times’
‘’…the brilliance of its performers and the integrity of its script…Robson, blazingly charismatic…’’
‘’…Robson’s disabilities are more severe than Dury, he has to use a wheelchair. But like everyone else in the show with a disability, such as the blind piano player in the impressively tight onstage band, this is not just acting. They really live with whatever it is.’’
The Guardian
‘’ …evoking the sounds of the Blockheads with Jankelesque keyboards, jazz-funk rhythms and choppy guitar to match the playful lyrics that, in true Dury style, are at once erudite and earthy…’’
‘’…Raspberry has an appropriately reckless atmosphere, down to the anvil and climbing frame that serve as impromptu percussion instruments…’’
‘’Artist Keith McIntyre adds a touch of class with his monochrome set…’’
‘’…Robson himself plays Dury…with the kind of acerbic wit…plus a warm charm that is all his own…’’
The Stage
‘’…Raspberry aggressively attacks ideas about disability with sharp cynicism and a dose of sentimentality. ..”
‘’… the production is joyous and Spasticus’ early songs are both tough and pointed. Garry Robson, as writer and performer, captures Dury’s dishevelled charm and vicious humour, finding a way beyond more tokenistic examples of inclusive performance…”
‘’…it is a bracing re-imagining of musical theatre…’’
Sunday Herald
‘’…if, like me, you remember vividly where you were when you heard of Dury’s death, Garry Robson’s musical theatre piece is for you…’’
‘’…Robson in fine Dureyesque form…’’
‘’…an engaging 75 minutes of theatre…by way of Gordon Dougall’s tight directing and Leigh Stirling’s fabulously diverse musical score, which surfs Dury’s
New Wave and touches on punk, country and western, and many other genres besides…’’
The Herald
‘’…Jem Dobbs is toweringly obdurate and yet sadly wretched as the Dad, who only wants Raspberry (Christine Bruno) to be perfect…’’
‘’…A roguishly droll Robson wheels on-stage…unleashes a swaggering flow of broadsides against society’s way of defining a person by their disease…’’
‘’…Sally Clay, David Stickman Higgins and Jamie Duffin power out Leigh Stirling’s musical pastiches, their energies and Robson’s blistering wit combining superbly…’’
‘’…it’s the music that creates the really thought provoking ripples…’’
The Scotsman
‘’…the play is suffused with a punkish plea for inclusion and the acceptance of difference…’’
‘’…entertaining throughout, with Robson harnessing Dury’s mischievous spirit rather than striving for an impersonation…’’
The Times’
‘’…the brilliance of its performers and the integrity of its script…Robson, blazingly charismatic…’’
‘’…Robson’s disabilities are more severe than Dury, he has to use a wheelchair. But like everyone else in the show with a disability, such as the blind piano player in the impressively tight onstage band, this is not just acting. They really live with whatever it is.’’
The Guardian
‘’ …evoking the sounds of the Blockheads with Jankelesque keyboards, jazz-funk rhythms and choppy guitar to match the playful lyrics that, in true Dury style, are at once erudite and earthy…’’
‘’…Raspberry has an appropriately reckless atmosphere, down to the anvil and climbing frame that serve as impromptu percussion instruments…’’
‘’Artist Keith McIntyre adds a touch of class with his monochrome set…’’
‘’…Robson himself plays Dury…with the kind of acerbic wit…plus a warm charm that is all his own…’’
The Stage
‘’…Raspberry aggressively attacks ideas about disability with sharp cynicism and a dose of sentimentality. ..”
‘’… the production is joyous and Spasticus’ early songs are both tough and pointed. Garry Robson, as writer and performer, captures Dury’s dishevelled charm and vicious humour, finding a way beyond more tokenistic examples of inclusive performance…”
‘’…it is a bracing re-imagining of musical theatre…’’