CALL IT PEACE. To 27 April.

London

CALL IT PEACE – MEDITATIONS FROM NORTH AMERICA
by Anthony P. Pennino

Finborough Theatre To 27 April 2002
Tue-Sat 7pm Sun 3pm
Runs 1hr No interval

TICKETS 020 7373 3842
Review Timothy Ramsden 21 April

Prison drama makes an hour seem a long sentence.Several years – and a number of qualitative light years – after Frank McGuinness's hostage-cell play Someone Who'll Watch Over Me comes this dramatic doodle from America. Its main point of note is that it's the first piece I've come across to mention 'September 11' – though the Canadian Cal soon follows up his reference with an apology.

American Rich is thrown into a cell alongside Cal – who, having been there longer, is further gone down the road of debility. Littler things loom large – like food rations. Big things loom large; a terminally weak Cal persuades Rich, reluctantly, to finish him off. Sex looms large, in imaginary visits from Rich's girl back home.

But despite all this giant-size looming, nothing seems very substantial. Partly it's owing to the short scenes, partly to the energetic but hardly detailed characterisation of the two prisoners. Partly owing to the late recruitment of a replacement performer for Rich's romance.

But if I were these guys' defence I'd put the problem on the script, which explores nothing in detail or with originality. 'Fresh from Off-Broadway' claims the programme. Sorry, such uninvolving, unilluminating writing is fresh from nowhere, and never was.

Rich: Clayton B. Hodges
Cal: Brian Hedden
Abby: Esther Elizabeth

Director: Missy Somers
Designer: Seo Hee Hong

2002-04-24 02:35:29