Everything changes. Nothing ever stays the same.
Oh, the sun still rises and sets (though that is debatable in this country), the earth still spins and the Rolling Stones are still, despite every law of science in the book, still going.
But, someday, even these wonders of the universe will be swallowed up by the jaws of time.
Life is a bit like a rollercoaster ride. You never know where it's going next; it always takes you by surprise and as you get older it seems to get faster and scarier.
For the characters of The Ducky the ride has just fired up a gear. And they have hit some serious turbulence.
It's summertime in Stewarton. The ducky, a local swimming hole, is rumoured to be soon replaced by a swimming pool. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Michelle's Grandmother is dying. Norma doesn't know where to turn now that she has finished school and Rab has returned from Cambridge university with a secret that is bound to spill soon.
Everybody is getting older. Everything is changing. And it doesn't feel good.
The Ducky is solid entertainment from beginning to end. The script is razor sharp with dialogue that sparks and crackles like fireworks on the stage leaving the audience hypnotised. Spectacular and beautiful.
Despite focusing on the themes of love, loss and the struggles of time, The Ducky is comedy gold. The audience laughed and even applauded at times, which made the heart-break all the more powerful when things got a little darker.
The performances are also excellent. To single anybody out would be unfair as they were all wonderful. A truly great young cast who all have a bright future ahead of them.
And it is the future that is the concern of all of these characters. What can you do? Nothing is certain....well, apart from death and taxes. How much time is there? What do they do now?
As the play come to a close, Michelle expresses a desire to start to "seize the day". Something she had never done before.
I think I would go with this.
There are those who stand by with proud understanding.....but never really get involved. Some people are dreamers. They live for the future. As if it would work out just as a dream.
Let me tell you something about relying on the future.
This weekend I am going to Turkey for two weeks. I booked the holiday over six months ago looking forward to a sunny summer holiday. Two days ago I checked the weather forecast......Yep! You guessed it! It's rain! In Turkey! In June! Go figure!
But it's okay. I don't mind.
There is a free indoor bar and Keith Richards is on the acoustic.
Every cloud has a silver lining.