Theatre plays with ire

Having enjoyed The Slab Boys trilogy in previous years and having read Joyce McMillan's review (30 April), a group of us set off to see John Byrne's latest play Nova Scotia. We should have stayed at home. It was self-indulgent drivel. The characters were unbelievable and the storyline was, at best, non-existent and, at worst, contrived. As each character ranted about life's awfulness we willed the play to end.

Thank goodness there is still good Scottish playwriting out there. The National Theatre's production of Black Watch was fresh, gripping and vibrant. John Byrne's latest production is, by comparison, tired and dated. The clue is in the word trilogy. He should have stuck to three.

CAROL WRIGHT

Taylor Avenue

Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire