Spoiling

A lot has been said about what might happen to the UK/Scotland relationship after independence has been achieved. We’ve had promises from both sides which are likely to be broken. Few questions have been asked, however, of what might happen in the period between referendum and sovereignty. In John McCann’s Spoiling, whose title has multiple connotations, we see the fruits of a ‘Yes’ win slowly eroded by British leader. For a play whose focus eventually rests on political machinations and language, however, the form doesn't really interact with the ideas presented.

McCann’s protagonist is Fiona, Scotland’s Foreign Minister Delegate (Gabriel Quigley). Heavily pregnant and the driving force behind the win, she is about to host her UK counterpart, but has been stalled by Northern Irish PR man Mark (Richard Clements). Through his urging her to toe the party line, we see how easily diluted idealism and honesty can become when faced with bureaucracy. Spoiling urges politicians to say what they feel, not what they ought to say.

The chemistry between Quigley and Clements is palpable, as the former manages to slowly win over the heart and mind of the latter through humour, passion and reasoning. Their characters may be a little underdeveloped, but each throws themselves into the quickfire pace of McCann’s dialogue.

Orla O’Loughlin’s tight direction sees these two hopeful characters crescendo to a poetic climax, but neither play nor production truly engages with questions of linguistic power or Scottish independence.