Review: Pandas, The Traverse Theatre

Pandas, ****The Traverse Theatre

With Jonathan Mills' forthcoming Asian-based Edinburgh International Festival line-up and the recent announcement of Edinburgh Zoo's giant pandas, the timing for prolific playwright Rona Munro's latest work couldn't have been more fitting.

Pandas - the Traverse's flagship production for this season's programme - is a poetic, visceral and humorous tale of love, loss and new awakenings.

Set in springtime in Edinburgh, the play follows three couples who ultimately find themselves involved in a criminal investigation where Chinese rugs are stolen, lovers are betrayed and con men are shot.

All of which, comes as some surprise to naive entrepreneur Jie Hui (Siu Hun Li), who gets swept up in dodgy importer Andy's (Keith Fleming) crooked affairs.

Meanwhile police officer James (Phil McKee) finds himself in a compromising situation with entomologist Madeleine, a suspect in a potential murder case, played by the brilliantly neurotic Meg Fraser.

Munro's script under the direction of Rebecca Gatward develops the three central relationships beautifully, slipping seamlessly between the political and personal.

This is enhanced by impeccable performances from the six-strong cast. Newcomer, Crystal Yu shines as the boisterous romantic Lin Han, while Vicki Liddelle puts in a brilliant turn as the damaged ex-cum-steely businesswoman, Julie.

What is especially refreshing about the play is the way in which Munro undercuts what could have been a conventional romantic drama to produce something whimsical and imaginative.

Much of this is down to the superb production itself; with John Harris' stirring sound design complementing Liz Cooke's luminous staging - transporting the audience from the luscious cherry tree filled Meadows, to the confines of the hospital ward and back again.

With strong visuals and dialogue, Munro's play is a poignant treatise to the challenges facing commitment. A theme expressed in the drama's upbeat closing coda when Madeleine tells James: "They (pandas] wait a long time for the panda worth climbing out of the tree for." For Pandas demonstrates that true love is, perhaps, not as endangered as we are led to believe.

Run ends Saturday, May 7