Theatre Alba

The Scotsman
18th August 1998
Rating * * * *

"As a woman I have no country" Virginia Woolf once said, ruminating on nationalism. While Woolf would have been terrified by this production - women speak in earthy Scots banter, swear, drink strange potions and indulge in pagan rituals - her words could easily serve as a prologue to the show.
It's a case of Braveheart meets Girl Power. Symbolic female figures (mother, lover, healer, stranger, nun) surround the women in William Wallace's life: Lady Wallace, his bride Marion and his baby daughter. But this is no dry history lesson.
Facing adversity with courage, sauciness and resourcefulness, these women bring history to life in ways the official versions never do.
Best of all are the excellent performances. The small cast work brilliantly together to produce real emotion and great humour throughout. It's a mix of "Spice World" and "The Steamie" against unimaginable hardship, brought home as Marion cries "where are all the men?" at the play's climax. There's some fabulous writing too. The Beltaine festivities are near farce, as the women fail to find a virgin in the entire village ("well, there's a war on") and Marion dances with her priapic, hessian-sack May King.
"Wallace's Women" is a delight both for individual lines ("Magic mushrooms, Mother Superior?") and for it's glorious feisty spirit.

Elisabeth Mahoney