Thomas and Rachel Howells travel to Barry’s Memo Arts Centre to review Chris Harris’ touring Welsh comedy, Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du. Our review appears in both Welsh and English.
Cymraeg
Bron yn union dair blynedd yn ôl, wnaeth Chris Harris sgwrsio a Rheolwraig Theatrau Sir Gâr am ddrama newydd yr oedd wedi’i hysgrifennu, Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du. Mae’n daith drwy’r pandemig wedi gohirio’r gwaith i ddechrau ond nawr mae’n braf i weld y cynhyrchiad hwn yn cael eu gweld gan gynulleidfaoedd ledled Cymru.
Mae’n rhwydd gweld bod Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du wedi bod yn brosiect personol i Chris gyda sgript cyffroes sy’n edrych ar y bandemig o bob cornel ac yn cynnwys pob sefyllfa o’r adeg yma. Gyda rheswm i chwerthin yn phob golygfa, mae ‘na sawl sefyllfa yn y sioe yn atgoffa fi yn bersonol o’r sefyllfa ryfeddol.
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan. 
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan. 
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan. 
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan. 
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan. 
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan.
Un o’r rhesymau dwi’n teimlo mae llenyddiaeth Cymraeg yn cael yr ystradeb o fod yn ddiflas, drwg a byth yn llwyddo dwi’n teimlo yw’r fordd caiff o ei ddysgu. Rydyn ni’n cael ein dysgu i ysgrifennu Cymraeg mewn ffordd ffurfiol â gramadeg perffaith â’r eirfa orau – mae’r athrawes Cymraeg i bron yn siomi disgyblion syn defnyddio bratiaith ac aml air Saesneg wrth siarad felly mae pobl yn teimlo diffyg hyder i alli ysgrifennu rhywbeth mewn iaith anffurfiol. Yn ogystal â hyn yr unig lenyddiaeth rydym yn gweld llwyddo yn cael eu hysgrifennu yn y modd yma, y Llyfr Glas Nebo neu Y Pump sydd ar y cwricwlwm, yn ennill pob medal. Ond wrth weld hyn heno ac Imrie ar ddydd Mawrth teimlaf rywfaint o obaith fod bydd yna fwy o farchnad ar gyfer theatr Cymraeg, byddwn yn lladd yr ystradeb o lenyddiaeth ddiflas a gallu cael llwyddiant a chyfrannu at ddyfodol yr iaith, yn enwedig â’r ieuenctid.
Efallai mai cast bach sydd, ond peidiwch adel i hwn twyllo chi i feddwl mai dim ond 4 cymeriad sydd yn y sioe gan fod pob un o’r 4 perfformwyr yn aml rôl. Mae’r castio yn berffaith gyda 4 actor comedïaidd talentog iawn ar y llwyfan. O’r dechrau mae Berwyn Pearce yn sefyll allan gyda’i chymeriad ‘Enri ac wedyn y cymeriad Twm sy’n chwarae â’r syniad o “queer-coded villains”.
Mae Alis Wyn Davies yn serenni ym mhob cymeriad mae’n chwarae ond Mari Anni sydd yn aros yn y meddwl. Dwi’n meddwl taw Anni Dafydd oedd gyda’r mwyafrif o gymeriadau i chwarae, popeth o bregethwyr i’r Medelwr mawr mae’n dangos pa mor dalentog mae hi Iwan Charles oedd wedi gwneud i mi chwerthin y fwyaf gyda’i pherfformiad corfforol sydd yn newid gyda phob un o’i chymeriadau.
Er bod y set yn syml mae goleuadau Luned Gwawr Evans yn mireinio popeth sy’n digwydd ar y llwyfan. Ambell waith mae un newid bach i’r goleuadau ac mae’r holl awyrgylch yn newid hefyd.
Yn olaf, byddwn wedi gwerthfawrogi toriad yn y sioe, mae angen amser i anadlu a chymryd y cysyniad o sgript ryfedd a doniol.
English
Nearly three years ago, Chris Harris discussed with the Manager of Carmarthenshire Theatres about a new play he had written, Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du (Scenes from the Black Plague). A journey through the pandemic initially delayed the work, but now the production is being seen by audiences all over Wales.
Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du is an exciting script that looks at the pandemic from every angle. With a reason to laugh in every scene, there are several situations in the show reminding me personally of this extraordinary situation.
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan. 
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan. 
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan. 
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan. 
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan. 
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan. 
A scene from Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du by Chris Harris with set design by Luned Gwawr Evans. Photo by Kirsten McTernan.
One of the reasons I feel Welsh literature gets the stereotype of being boring, bad and never successful is the way it is taught. We are taught to write Welsh in a formal way with perfect grammar and the best vocabulary – the Welsh teacher almost disappoints pupils who use slang and many English words when speaking, so people feel a lack of confidence in their ability to write something in an informal language. In addition to this, the only literature we see succeeding in being written in this way, Llyfr Glas Nebo (Nebo’s blue book) and Y Pump (The Five) on the curriculum, winning every medal. Watching two Welsh dramas this week, Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du tonight and Imrie last Tuesday, I feel some hope that there will be more of a market for Welsh theatre. Killing the strategy of boring literature, while having success and contributing to the future of the Welsh language, especially with the youth.
Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du may feature a small cast, but don’t let this fool you into thinking that there are only 4 characters in the show as each performer takes on a multi- role. The casting is perfect with 4 very talented comedic actors on stage. From the beginning Berwyn Pearce stands out with her character ‘Enri and then the character Twm who plays with the idea of ”queer-coded villains”.
Alis Wyn Davies is a star in every character she plays but Mari Anni is the one who stays in the mind. I think it was Anni Dafydd who had the most characters to play, everything from preachers to the Reaper displays how talented she is. Iwan Charles made me laugh the most with his physical performance which changes with each of his characters.
Er bod set Luned Gwawr Evans yn syml, mae goleuo Veg Davies yn mireinio popeth sy’n digwydd ar y llwyfan. Weithiau mae un newid bach i’r goleuadau ac mae’r awyrgylch cyfan yn newid hefyd.
Finally, I would have appreciated a break in the show, it does needs time to breathe and take in the content of an amazing and hilarious script. Featuring some adult content, Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du, continues its run of Welsh venues until May 26.
- For full tour details visit Carmarthenshire Theatre’s website.