Elaine C Smith delivers a standout performance in Cathy, a new comedy by Eilidh Loan, now playing at the Traverse theatre in Edinburgh until 30 August. The play, inspired by Loan's grandmother, offers a sharp, often hilarious look at grief, family dynamics, and religious tension within a working-class Scottish family.
A Perfect Fit for Elaine C Smith
Loan, who made her mark with the male-centred comedy Moorcroft about her father's amateur football team, has now turned to her grandmother's story. The older woman specifically requested that Smith play the title role, a choice that proves inspired. Smith embodies Cathy, a newly widowed woman whose grief edges toward depression, with a precision that makes her seem born for the part. Her delivery of Loan's acerbic lines is battle-hardened and sharp, landing each joke with impeccable timing.
Cathy is a woman who has stopped caring about pleasing others, voicing every discomfort without filter. Beneath her waspish tongue and world-weary sourness, a vulnerable person emerges, deflated and disillusioned, unable to imagine making it to Christmas. The play opens with the gallows humour typical of post-funeral gatherings, where death triggers both laughter and tears among the mourners.
Family Dynamics and Religious Tensions
The story unfolds in the aftermath of Tommy's funeral, Cathy's husband of 50 years. The family includes Flo (Michele Gallagher), grieving for her father; Flo's husband Colin (Alan Orr), a Protestant outsider in this Catholic clan; and Amy (Chloe Hodgson), heavily pregnant and hoping for a less acrimonious future. Kenny Miller's set design shifts between Cathy's front room and the charity shop where Amy works, where the similarly bereaved Lizzie (Sally Reid) helps advance the narrative, suggesting that life continues despite persistent grief.
As social comedy, Cathy is snappily observed, but it lacks dramatic weight. The central conflict—whether Cathy and Flo can reconcile their mother-daughter differences—feels low-stakes, especially with the placatory Tommy gone. The ending, featuring new life and a Christmas resolution, provides a touching note, yet the play covers limited emotional ground despite its big laughs.
Practical Information
Performances run at the Traverse theatre, Edinburgh, until 30 August. This production is part of the Edinburgh festival 2026 lineup, showcasing new writing in a festival setting.
