Saturday, 13th August. Pleasance Beyond
It certainly doesn’t feel like 26 years ago that Trainspotting was released in cinemas, the cult classic penned by Edinburgh native Irvine Welsh in 1993 introduced the world to the murky hidden squalor of the Scottish capital and specifically a group of friends, addicts, schemers and psychos. The friends and their antics were immortalised on the big screen thanks to the collaboration of author Welsh, screenwriter John Hodge and Director Danny Boyle. The novel and subsequent movie release were a worldwide global hit leaving the characters firmly etched in the memory forever.
When my wife and I took our seats at the Pleasance Beyond theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe for the stage adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s Porno the follow up to Trainspotting, it felt like we were on our way to a school reunion where you just weren't sure how anyone had got on since you last saw them. We needn't have worried. From the moment the lights went down and the characters made their introduction, it was like they had never been away – yeah they might be a wee bit older (aren’t we all), but maybe not much wiser.
The story picks up 15 years after Renton had robbed the group of friends, fled the scene and left Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie to pick up the crumbs of their own lives. A lot can happen in 15 years – a guilty conscious can catch up with you, a vengeful rage can fester or old habits can re-emerge.
The casting has been superb, Chris Gavin is the embodiment of Begbie, emerging from the shadows after a long stint behind bars. The psycho of the group is alive and well, not changed a bit after his jail time and is ready to set about anyone who even looks at him now that he's back on the street. Simon Weir is the epitome of SickBoy only a wee bit older now, much more sleazier and still happy to score a line up his nose and find ways of lining his pockets.
Scott Kyle is captivating as he reeled us in to the scheming ways of Renton; returned to Leith after his escape to Amsterdam. Kevin Murphy gave a perfect performance in the role of Spud, always trying to help everyone else, it was easy to fall in love with the character all over again.
The playwright behind the production David Carswell has captured the storytelling flawlessly for this absolutely fantastic bit of theatre. The prospect of an extended version of this play is something we can all hope for soon. In the meantime make sure you do your best to get along and see this perfectly crude, vulgar, funny and profane work of art.
