Transparent

⭐⭐⭐ 1/2⭐ 

Written by LC Stephens. 

Directed by Graham McLaren.

Clare and Barry are in their 50’s Tom divorced and single, Clare stuck in a relationship that’s going nowhere. 

Barry finds out he is going to be a grandfather, however there may be problems with the baby. 

Clare’s flamboyantly gay brother has died leaving her the only person alive with memories of the family 

Feeling hopeless and not knowing what to say to his son he meets up with Spider his married but flirty friend, how spider got his nickname is a running gag throughout the play. 

Barry and Clare meet by chance in a Byres road bar and end up going to an Italian restaurant for dinner, both bemoaning how hard it is to find real love later in life. What Clare can’t remember is being on a date with Barry in the past. Giving more meaning to the play title Transparent. 

The cast are all excellent in their parts Jo Freer as Clare and Tom McGovern as Barry inhabit their roles as slightly older, unlucky in love and weary. 

Keith Macpherson multiple roles, as Vic, the ghost of Clare’s brother and Spider provides the lightness to the text. 

Personally I would have liked it to use these characters more as they brought the theatricality to the play. 

The play is mainly delivered in fairly heavy monologues and the dining scene which lasts for quite a while. I felt the play could work really well on the radio. 

There was a lovely set piece of an old radio in each scene. Music is used to great advantage to set the mood. 

Will Barry and Clare, make a go of it and will all be well with the birth? You will need to get a ticket to see.