A VOYAGE ROUND MY FATHER. To 14 February.
Newcastle-under-Lyme.
A VOYAGE ROUND MY FATHER
by John Mortimer.
New Vic Theatre To 14 February 2009.
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 2.15pm.
Audio-described 14 Feb 2.15pm.
Captioned 10 Feb.
Post-show Talkback 10 Feb.
Runs 2hr 15min One interval.
TICKETS: 01782 717962.
www.newvictheatre.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 6 February.
As it happened?
As it happened, John Mortimer’s death coincided with Theresa Heskins’ revival of his autobiographical play, with its scenes from young Mortimer’s life including public school, sex, early struggles in a legal career and adventures in the documentary film trade.
In a varied life Mortimer, or as both parents call him “The Boy”, wanders in naïve wonder through a surprise encounter with friendly local lesbians as he accompanies his blind father round the countryside, and causes a technicians’ walk-out as assistant director on a wartime documentary.
Moved to writing films instead he meets Elizabeth who becomes his first wife. It clearly won’t last, but as with the promise of having a play produced, Mortimer doesn’t follow such adult complexities too far.
Heskins uses the New Vic stage to create an abstract flow of events (it is a Voyage, after all) around the raised disc of Lis Evans’ set, its hollow centre displaying a projected dahlia at start and end, emphasising the garden which was the Father’s domestic obsession, and protection. Always a way to hide from people, it became an escape from the blindness the family wasn’t allowed to mention.
This setting has gains, but restricts, for example, the brief court scenes, reducing a judge to a side-figure. Yet the play’s humour is evident, as is the Father’s downside. The law was a perfect mask, turning the old man’s lack of seriousness into a professional asset, while his avoidance of social contacts was matched by a professional coldness that prevented his practice growing.
Antony Eden catches the eager belief of a child and, in contrast, the understanding of his commentary as adult narrator. Roy Sampson encapsulates the authority-figure Father, making unchallenged pronouncements, treating the law as a game, disregarding others’ feelings, while Anny Tobin shows the wife living obediently in his shadow. Among a good cast, John Killoran provides a comically pointed headmaster while Vivienne Rowdon’s giggly Iris, who intimates pre-sexual physicality to the Son, nicely contrasts her strong picture of the sensible, assertive Elizabeth, who finally brings the air of truth into a garden where everything has not been lovely.
Son: Antony Eden.
Miss Cox/Doris/Miss Bulstrode/Granddaughter/Witness: India Fisher.
Headmaster/Mr Thong/Mr Morrow/Doctor: John Killoran.
Elizabeth/Iris/Miss Baker/ATS Girl: Vivienne Rowdon.
Father: Roy Sampson.
Reigate/Ringer Lean/Ham/Judge/Grandson: Robin Simpson.
Mother/ATS Girl: Anny Tobin.
Japhet/Mr Bousted/Director/George: JamesTopping.
Director: Theresa Heskins.
Designer: Lis Evans.
Lighting: Daniella Beattie.
Sound: James Earls-Davis.
Choreographer: Beverley Edmunds.
Vocal coach: Mark Langley.
2009-02-09 00:09:00