SEA WALL & WMD: WOMAN OF MASS DECEPTION
Licensing conditions are in place that prohibit me from reviewing Simon Stephens’ Sea Wall. First time I have ever encountered such a condition and rather a shame as it is a very fine play. It’s also rather a shame as Frankie Knight has directed it with discrete skill. But I can see no reason whatsoever that I should be prevented from reviewing the performance in the play of actor Jon Cottrell. Cottrell is a revelation, an actor of extraordinary skill who brings so much to the stage. It’s a physical performance, humor and anguish, energy and calm in equal measure, but the heart of his artistry is in his eyes, every emotion painted in the merest flicker. It is a five star performance that makes me want to see what he will do next. Book me in now!
WMD: Woman Of Mass Deception is a new play by local writer and theatre maker Strat Mastoris. Previously trialled in a shorter form Mastoris has taken his play, based around the story of Helen of Troy, to a whole new level. And what a time to do this as the parallels to current world politics could not be more poignant.
Splicing two of Homer’s tales together we see power struggling to dominate an ancient world, we see greed and despotism in the form of Agamemnon played with force and little mercy by Mark Lester. So little in fact that in the form of his slain daughter Iphigenia she tells the bloody story of her demise at his hands herself. It’s a matter of fact display of disbelief and Joanna-Joy Salter relates it face to face with the audience, dripping blood from her slashed throat, heartbreaking stuff.
Mastoris paints a Helen that has been weaponised and gives her a truly splendid speech and Kasha Goodenough delivers it with stern conviction.
Rich Watkins is the handsome, appropriately so, Odysseus, charming and manipulative and showing so many shades of contemporary politics… but more of that later.
Running throughout the work is the treasurer played with consummate skill by Jeremy Crow. This is a masterclass of theatre art, made better by Mastoris and the brilliant scripting he has gifted to the role. Crow is superb, narrator, placating and persuading and coping with two very long monologues faultlessly. He is the thread that holds the whole together, artful playing and artful writing, moments when you are reminded of House Of Cards and Yes Minister, and that leads back into that link up to the modern world.
Mastoris makes much of this, that parallel is at the heart of this play and comes clearly to life when Rich Watkins returns, this time as Tony Blair, delivering verbatim the statements that he made in the early 2000s when war was waged on Saddam Hussein and Blairs shining star was tarnished as he fell from grace. It is an excellent representation of Blair, the intonation and mannerisms perfectly rendered.
The play has so much to recommend it, fine writing and fine performances by all. The second half could perhaps be delivered by interjecting the Blair speeches into the treasurers’ long monologue, but that is a very personal thought and in no way meant to detract from an exciting new play that deserves a future.
And all this premiered on a day when a certain Mr Trump announces that a certain Mr Blair will be placed in charge of Gaza. Does this mean that T sees B as manager of his new golf resort, is this a Basil Fawlty for the future of the Middle East? The blood runs cold!
Andrew Kay
3 October
New Venture Theatre
Rating:
