When Mountains Meet, Edinburgh Review
Written by Sarah for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
"My mother is Scottish. My father was Pakistani. In my early twenties I found the father I’d never met … but I was taboo in a culture to which I longed to belong.”
When Mountains Meet explores and presents the true story of renowned Scottish musician Anne Wood as she ventures from the hills of the Highlands to the mountains of the Himalayas to meet her father for the first time.
Unlike your traditional theatre performance where audience members are given assigned seats, When Mountains Meet embraces a warm, intimate and wedding-esque show space where the three actors guide us to a random seat at one of the many circular tables dotted around the room.
At our tables, we are greeted with china tea cups for ‘kanha’, a plate of sweets [‘ladoo]’ to share, and pebbles of gneiss from the Highlands which all play a unique and significant role in the show, and truly allow us to immerse ourselves in Anne’s journey as she navigates her heritage and identity.
On one side of the room, there is also a minimal yet effective set of three triangular sheets [for coloured light displays] to represent both the Scottish Highlands and Himalayas.
Accompanying the show is a spirited and carefully crafted live score [composed by Anne Wood herself], blending both Scottish and Pakistani music, and including an array of instruments, such as the electric harp, violin, tanpura drone and sitar — each and every on-stage musician and storyteller exudes tremendous talent, and the high level of creative collaboration is evident!
However, this beautiful live score is unfortunately let down by a simplistic script, including jokes that repeatedly fall flat, and a rather disconnected tone that deprives the show’s touching finale of its full emotional punch.
Full of outward, visible vibrancy and talent, When Mountains Meet is certainly an enjoyable and well-executed show, but doesn’t quite have the deep, affecting impact that one may expect.
On tour across Scotland until 28 May 2024.
☆ ☆ ☆
