The high-octane opening of Douglas Maxwell’s latest play I Can Go Anywhere – which takes its name from a lyric by The Who – can best be described as receiving the so-called “hairdryer treatment” from former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

For it is an in-your-face, relentless assault on your senses. Namely, sight and sound. As the self-proclaimed “spark of true living” that is asylum seeker Jimmy (Nebli Basani) wriggles and twitches his way through a rapid succession of musical and cultural references associated with the mod movement. The effect of which is deliberately disconcerting by director Eve Nicol.

Hence why the washed-up academic and social commentator Stevie (Paul McCole), from whom Jimmy is trying to secure a reference to support his Home Office application, responds with the blunt demands of explain yourself then f**k off. Panto this is not; though humour there is aplenty.

Dissecting mod culture to the nth degree, the subsequent heated discussions act as a springboard to explore wider themes of identity and freedom – in particular: youth culture, masculinity and later sexuality – as an increasingly drunken and disillusioned Stevie goes “absolute total topper” in empathising with both sides of every argument to the point that he concludes, wearily, he is not sure of anything anymore.

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And a dramatic twist towards the end leaves the audience in a similar predicament as both reflect upon the wreckage of the past and hopes and fears for the future through a glass darkly. “You’re in Scotland now,” remarks Stevie dryly. “This is what we do here.” Though with talk of Oasis and Blur and the political elite diluting youth culture into the mainstream, it’s not-so-Cool Britannia too.

Nebli Basani and Paul McCole are on top form as they utilise Maxwell’s dense and dazzling dialogue as red hot pokers with which to poke and prod the truth out of one another. For the most part their guards remain high which adds an enigmatic quality to their characters. Which is no bad thing as the audience are left to ponder their own thoughts on identity in a world of increasing labels and rising borders.

I can go anywhere? Depends on who you are and where you want to go.

Peter Callaghan
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