Getting My Hackles Up

August 28th:
Getting my Hackles Up

The wife and I watched Gregory Burke's play "Black Watch" on the TV last night and it was literally, bloody brilliant. If you ever get a chance to see it, go.

An excellent cast portray the story of Scots Soldiers and life for them linked to a "Golden Thread" of past, present and future. It's nae new having been on the go for a bit but it's vital and it was great to see it make National TV.

Visually, it's theatre-in-the-round with the audience either side of the hall making use of very clever and minimal scenery.

I loved the sense of camaraderie that shone through, the futility, the history (usually of the Scots being duped and shat upon by our so called betters), the dialog, and the obvious attempt to portray and remain on the ball as regards reality.

The climax was emotional making you hold your breath and you could sense what was going to happen yet it had no distinct ending as such. Like the three soldiers blown up, you were left hanging in suspension. Thought provoking, I certainly couldn't sleep for a while thinking over it all. So much so, I went and checked out the black watch website.

On it they have obituaries for two recent soldiers. They were only twenty. What a waste. Their names were Jamie Kerr and Scott Kennedy. I wonder if Blair or Bush know their names? I'm glad I do. It reaffirms my belief that we really should pull our troops out of Iraq as soon as possible. They should never have been there in the first place. I feel heart sorry for their families and those left behind fucked up by it all.

It really gets my hackles up.