3 IN THE BACK 2 IN THE HEAD To 10 December.

Richmond

3 IN THE BACK 2 IN THE HEAD
by Jason Sherman

Orange Tree Theatre To 10 December 2005
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Sat 4pm & 17, 24 Nov 2.30pm
Audio-described 22 Nov, 26 Nov 4pm
Post-shoe discussion 17, 24 Nov 2.30pm, 2 Dec
Runs 1hr 45min One interval

TICKETS: 020 8940 3363
www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 14 November

Conspiracy drama that has a limited amount to reveal.
The title’s a prescription for bullets: a sure-fire way of leaving your enemy dead. The trouble with Canadian Jason Sherman’s conspiracy drama is, it has little new to say about democratic governments covertly terminating their more dangerous citizens with extreme prejudice. And mature scientist Donald Jackson is among the most dangerous kind. A Canadian caught in the American intelligence web, he hawks his scientific project for a missile shield against enemy rockets round the world because America’s pulled the plug on the project after years of expensive research.

When the reason for this rejection finally appears, it forms the keenest revelation the play offers: one based on a maverick within the system, rather than corporate action. Yet Sherman’s doesn’t focus on this interesting point: how an attempt to prevent one country’s invulnerability (and therefore, ability to make war on others) leads to the possibility of greater danger. And by the time the theme emerges there’s been too much treading water shallow in plot and original ideas.

Nor does Sherman take us very far into Jackson’s mind. He’s devoted to his work and politically naïve. And hardly a model of patience or ability to listen to others’ arguments. Yet a lot of the complexity that gives the character interest is created by Rod Beacham’s striking performance. Reassuringly soft-voiced, Beacham’s manner contrasts his character’s spikier edges. There’s decent work throughout the cast, including Vincent Brimble’s quietly authoritative military leader pursuing a personal peace agenda and Kevin Doyle as his namesake, a CIA official with a manner as crisply bland as his immaculate white shirt. Devious in practice as he seems straightforward in manner, his huge desk dominating Vicki Fifield’s grey, minimal set, Doyle has only his word-spinning to break the impact when he realises he’s the fall-guy.

Qarie Marshall and Pat Starr handle underdeveloped roles well enough, while Adam Barnard’s quick-moving direction clarifies Sherman’s thematically apt device of intercutting conversations that took place on different occasions between Doyle and others. It’s all OK, but, apart from retreads of so many existing films and plays, there’s not enough conspiracy to go round.

Paul Jackson: Qarie Marshall
John Doyle: Kevin Doyle
Ed Sparrow: Vincent Brimble
Donald Jackson: Rod Beacham
Anna Jackson: Pat Starr

Director: Adam Barnard
Designer: Vicki Fifield
Lighting: John Harris
Music: Peter Michaels
Assistant director: Amy Hodge

2005-11-17 09:39:07