Trainspotting, a book, a movie, and now - a play showing at the Vortex Theater.
First off, if you've seen the movie starring Ewan McGregor, you'll notice a few slight differences.
For one, the climax isn't included in the play version - a stage adaptation by Harry Gibson, based on the novel by Irvine Welsh.
"There are a lot of changes, it's very different," said Miguel Martinez, director and president of the Vortex board. "That whole deal at the end where they go to London and do the swap of the smack for a bunch of money and then Mark screws over his buddies is not in this version."
Don't expect any cool effects or elaborate set pieces from this production. It focuses on the character's dialogue, even through the thick Scottish accents.
"This is a bare bones production," Martinez said. "There aren't any special effects, there aren't any babies flying on the ceiling or Mark sinking into the ground or disappearing into a toilet.
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There are none of those metaphors. This is real."
This production makes the characters almost endearing because of the reality involved.
At any point you may find yourself thinking, "that could've happened to me," or "that thought crossed my mind." The difference here is these characters have few inhibitions.
Like the movie, "Trainspotting" the stage adaptation, includes graphic depictions of drug abuse but according to Martinez that is only part of the story.
"I don't think it's about drug addicts," Martinez said. "These people are all kind of bonded for a reason."
The play is about a group of lower class people who have real problems and are trying to cope.
But even at the bottom of the barrel, you can still have some fun, such as when Mark, played by Malcolm Sharbutt, and Tommy, played by Kelly Flaherty, go on job interviews after taking significant doses of speed.
Both Sharbutt and Flaherty give charismatic performances that bring you into their worlds.
They make you feel as though you are watching your friends talk about their wacky, yet psychologically disturbed antics.
"Trainspotting" deals with the perspectives of many characters, as opposed to just one character.
Each person has a moment or two to tell his or her story.
June, a waitress, played by Rachel Tatum, talks about how liberated she felt spiking the tomato broth of two very chauvinistic males she had to wait on with the uterine lining from her tampon.
This monologue goes far beyond toilet humor. It takes the audience to a place where it wants to root for her "take no prisoners" attitude.
"Trainspotting" is true to the novel of the same name written by Welsh.
It has many of the scenes contained in the movie, but the play is told in a manner that invites the audience to relate to its seemingly vile characters.
"Trainspotting" runs through Sept. 22, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 6 p.m. Sundays.
The Vortex Theatre is located on 2004 E. Central Ave. at Buena Vista St. SE.
Tickets are $10 general seating, $8 students and seniors on Fridays and Saturdays. All seats are $7 on Sundays.
For information or reservations call 247-8600.
