It’s not quite what it says on the tin, but there are enough biscuits in there to keep you going throughout this relatively short performance. The show isn’t actually anything to do with Blazing Gannies, which seems to be more a pseudonym of storyteller, F. Mary Callan. Instead, today’s solo performance is Unluckiest Prophets, which will alternate with Families in Crisis over the week.
The show is an amalgamation of snippets from the lives of Biblical prophets, all the way from Abraham to Jesus. We hear about Abraham sacrificing animals, Gideon attacking the enemy camp, armed only with bread and rams’ horns, Elijah and the priests of Baal, John the Baptist and his beheading. The words are not taken from the Bible but are Callan’s own, conveying her take on what went on when, sometimes with a modern slant. Some stories are longer than others and some don’t bring enough of a flavour to the individual prophet.
Rows of colourful cloths and shawls provide the backdrop to the performance. As Callan picks up each piece, she casually throws it over her left shoulder and in doing so, becomes another person. When she leaves that person, she casually dumps the cloth on the floor. This idea works well, which is why her asides to the audience, explaining who she is now, are unnecessary. Unnecessary too is the introduction, as the performance should speak for itself.
Mary Callan has a beautiful, deep, Yorkshire accent, which lends itself well to performance. She brought some of the prophets to life, but a little more differentiation in tone or accent would have given each an individual character. Herod, she plays with gusto, setting him aside from all the others. His gorgeous red and gold cloth gives him the regal edge.
This show is only 40 minutes long and is free. It’s worth it if only to hear Callan’s voice, enjoy the array of fabric and indeed marvel at the amazing mural on the wall- not part of the performance- but adding a certain sense of mystery to the surroundings.
