COMPLICIT. To 21 February.
London.
COMPLICIT
by Joe Sutton.
Old Vic to 21 February 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat2.30pm.
Audio-described 17 Feb.
Captioned 18 Feb 7.30pm.
Runs 1hr 55min One interval.
TICKETS: 0870 060 6628.
www.oldvictheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 29 January.
Big issues with little impact.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this three-hander is that not one, but two people were responsible for casting. I know the famous can be hard to get, even on director Kevin Spacey’s behalf, but what did they do – camp on doorsteps till the cast gave in?
If so, these actors might have had a slight flavour of life for American journalist Benjamin Kritzer after he both exposes, and for a time approves, America’s interrogation techniques against terrorist suspects, principally in what he calls (during a TV interview screened periodically through the play) his “torture article”.
The Old Vic provides a clear discussion of the arguments, ethical and practical, around American use of torture - in an edited version of Christopher Hitchens’ Vanity Fair piece, quoted in the programme, which is far clearer than anything in Joe Sutton’s script.
A very few minutes in it’s apparent film would be doing this far better than the bare circular stage surrounded by audience. Sutton’s play desperately needs some solid reality as its post-Mamet dialogue proceeds jerkily, soon becoming monotonously assertive and inappropriate for Kritzer, his wife or their smoothly accomplished lawyer.
Elizabeth McGovern copes with dignity in a non-part. Judith has her own name but no substance, mainly serving to remind Benjamin of his family before he destroys career and liberty by refusing to name his information source.
Everything’s described in recall, making this more about the characters’ emotional states than the issues provoking them, and leaving the video scenes the most interesting part of the play. Then, too late, themes emerge in a lump: conflict between the responsibilities of the citizen and the journalist, and the view American public opinion from Vietnam on has focused on self-interest.
There’s a lot of high-volume acting and over-indicative arm gesturing from Richard Dreyfuss, and increasingly David Suchet, doubtless encouraged by the sparse staging. If the ideas had engaged with the character and emerged through developing action, there might have been a drama to put beside that of John Proctor in Arthur Miller’s great play. As it is, this is less The Crucible than The Thimble.
Benjamin Kritzer: Richard Dreyfuss.
Judith Brown: Elizabeth McGovern.
Roger Cowan: David Suchet.
Court Official: Alistair Cope.
Director: Kevin Spacey.
Designer: Rob Howell.
Lighting: Howard Harrison.
Sound: Simon Baker for Autograph.
Video: Jon Driscoll.
2009-01-30 16:43:46