LIVERPOOL OLYMPIA – THURSDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2023
REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN
4****
Trainspotting, both Irvine Welsh’s novel and the film adaptation, is considered a significant achievement in 90s culture. It has forever altered the Scottish literary scene. Welsh’s sequel, Porno, continues the story fifteen years after Trainspotting concludes. It allows us to reconnect with the characters Renton, Begbie, Sick Boy, and Spud, who, despite the passage of time, have not necessarily become any wiser.
Irvine Welsh’s Porno is a stage adaptation of his novel of the same name. It had a month-long run at one of the largest Pleasance venues during the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe. The show sold out and received rave reviews from both audiences and critics
In Davie Carswell’s adaptation directed by Jonty Cameron, the characters are portrayed as rough individuals. Fifteen years ago, Renton (played by Scott Kyle) and his companions stole a substantial sum of money in a successful heist. However, Renton decided to flee to Amsterdam, leaving his old life behind. Now, Renton’s mother is seriously ill, prompting him to return to Leith to visit her and make amends with Sick Boy (played by James McAnerney), who now manages a struggling pub. Additionally, Renton hopes to reconcile with Spud (played by Kevin Murphy), who, despite his innocent demeanour, has been overcome with hopelessness. Unfortunately, Renton’s plans are complicated by the presence of Begbie (Chris Gavin), a violent and dangerous man recently released from prison for manslaughter, who is seeking revenge against him.
Kevin Murphy delivered a spectacular portrayal of Spud, his physical acting perfectly complemented the rest of the show, captivating audiences with every aspect of the character – his agitated movements, awkward shuffling, and pitiful attempts at smiling. Out of all the storylines, Spud’s is undoubtedly the most tragic, and Murphy skilfully depicts his inner turmoil. The audience can’t help but sympathize with Spud, especially because of the way Murphy connects with them. Overall, Murphy’s performance is beautiful, taking the audience on an emotional rollercoaster ride.
The set design is both simple and diverse. It consists of a bar, a few tables, and chairs that can be used by all the characters.
This iconic show lived up to all of my expectations and wonderfully surpassed the hype of its predecessor. It was hilariously nostalgic and offered a satisfying conclusion to the lives of characters we have all grown to both love and hate.