Better known for her crime novels, Glasgow author Denise Mina decided to write her own version of MacDiarmid’s poem A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle, by revisiting the same themes of Scottish-ness and national identity. No one could do that job better than the fantastic Karen Dunbar, who brilliantly carries her hour-long monologue in a setting of refined furniture and tartan/thistle symbols of Scotland.
With this poem, Mina clearly demonstrates her writing skills are not limited to crime fiction, and her words often trigger spontaneous applause in the audience. An audience who has not read bits of the original work, or lived in Scotland may not fully appreciate the sharpness of both the writing and the performance, but it is still enjoyable enough. For Scotland has changed since McDiarmid, and Dunbar’s drunkenness and pink hen party hat can now be seen as a side of today’s Scottish culture.
Mina’s writing and Dunbar’s acting were made for each other. The osmosis between Dunbar and her monologue is excellent, and transports an ecstatic audience through serious and tense reflections on the state of today’s Scottish culture, as well as witty remarks that triggers bursting of laughter. Possibly – and ironically – the only act about Scotland in the Festival, A Drunk Woman…ends with a beaming Dunbar leaving the room under cheering and thunders of applause from the audience. An uplifting act that fully deserves it success.
5/5 
Adeline Amar
