CHASING THE MOMENT. To 24 February.

London.

CHASING THE MOMENT
by Jack Shepard.

Arcola Theatre 27 Arcola Street E8 2DJ To 24 February 2007.
Mon-Sat 8pm.
Runs 2hr 15min One interval.

TICKETS: 0207 503 1646.
www.arcolatheatre.com
Review: Harriet Davis 26 January.

Given the quality of this production, it’s difficult to believe this play was an award-winner for best production at the 1995 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Following the relative success of In Lambeth in 1989, Jack Shepard wrote his second play, apparently driven by a love of the then-waning British jazz scene. Which is odd, because Chasing The Moment has very little to do with jazz. Or anything else for that matter.

Shepard himself plays Les, a jaded, aging jazz musician reluctant to make room for the younger, posier generation. Joe (Tom Silburn) is the womanizing frontman, currently engaged in an on-off (but mostly off) relationship with drummer Tony’s volatile sister. Harry is the self-destructive (cliché ridden) bassist, and Joanne the world-weary girlfriend of the club owner, who is currently hospitalized.

Supposedly a discussion of desire, talent, self respect and of course, jazz, none of these themes are obviously apparent. It is hard to tell whether Shepard’s script is specifically to blame – there are occasional flickers of ingenuity – but Mehmet’s Ergen’s direction is so bad that that these moments are difficult to spot.

There is a noticeable lack of depth. This is at best a soap opera, in which characters react in predictable ways to predictable situations; there is no subtlety, and very little ambiguity. The onstage chemistry is practically non-existent and the jokes are a string of one-liners.

Helen Anderson does a valiant job as Joanne, and Shepard gives a passable performance. The rest of the cast struggle and Gracy Goldman is near-unwatchable as flouncy, hysterical Sharon. The cast also have a limited musical range, as quickly becomes clear.

The Arcola is a nice setting for a jazz club, and generally the space is used well. Other than that, there is very little to be said in favour of this dull and decidedly awkward production.

Harry: Jim Bywater.
Tony: Clifford Samuel.
Les: Jack Shepard.
Joe: Tom Silburn.
Joanne: Helen Anderson.
Sharon: Gracy Goldman.

Director: Mehmet Ergen.
Designer: Patrick Du Wors.
Lighting: Yajup Cartik.

2007-01-29 00:10:11