45 YEARS

Photography: Helen Murray

James Cotterill’s spartan set, suburban swirly beige carpet, two chairs, a stool, a chest of drawers on which we get a table lamp and a CD player might have been the indication that this is a somewhat spartan play. Short passages of dialogue punctuated by many blackouts in which stage hands came on to hand over drinks, items of clothing and make minor changes to the positions of the two chairs, did not make for interesting viewing and indeed became irritating. Perhaps director Prasanna Puwanarajah’s intention was to emphasise the dreary nature of a marriage hitting a 45th anniversary, and writer Hannah  Pattersons adaptation of Andrew Haigh’s film  is a spartan as the set. The staccato pacing of the early part of the play left me wondering when something might happen. When it does happen, the whole, for a while comes to life, but only for a while as Kate whilst trying to deal with the arrangements for an anniversary party is also trying to digest husband Geoff’s news that the body of an ex girlfriend of over 45 years back, has been discovered in a block of ice in the Swiss mountains.

Gabriel Byrne is Geoff, a shuffling figure of few words, clearly disturbed by the news. Sadly for we the audience though, his few words are delivered in a low mumble and even in row C it was at times difficult hear what he was saying. The Minerva is a small space but with audience on three sides, he often had his back to a third of us and his performance was lost. Playing the part so intimately might work for TV or film but here it was just too understated.

Gillian Bevan in contrast, as friend Lena, had an assured command of both the role and the space and made the most of her part as the enthusiastic friend. Her blustering presence sharply contrasting with friend Kate who is trying desperately to process the news that the body of the ex has been found and why husband Geoff is so affected.

Geraldine James is wonderful as Kate and delivers a performance that far exceeds the part as written. As the story unfolds she balances confusion and concern with a controlled calm. What she is learning, as she uncovers unsettling truths in the loft of the house, the only impressive element of the set and staging, throws into doubt their whole marriage, and all this on the day before a large celebration of those 45 years. Around her Lena fusses about frocks, a party planner badgers her by phone about music and, for some unexplained reason, that chest of drawers drifts on and off, the chairs move minimally through 45 degrees and there is a dismal shower of rain, real water dribbling for moments at the back of the set. Why?

A soundscape of progressively louder creaking ice, projections that mark the passage of time and finally reveal the darkest truth, not I hasten to add murder, add little to the low key delivery of the whole. And in the final scene, as Geoff, thankfully aided by a microphone at this point, makes his anniversary speech and declares his undying love for Kate. Geraldine James stares at this figure of a husband who has harboured a deep secret for so long, walks around the stage before joining him to dance their wedding song, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. But as she dances she is clearly not engaged, the smoke lifting from her eyes. It’s a terribly discreet indication that for her, this marriage is over, and it is the moment in which she secures the truth that she is indeed a very fine actor.

Andrew Kay

18 June

Minerva Theatre Chichester

Rating: