COSI. To 30 October.
London
COSI
by Louis Nowra
Bridewell Theatre To 30 October 2004
Tue-Sun 7.30pm Mat Sun 3.30pm
Runs 2hr 20min One interval
TICKETS: 020 7936 3456
Review: Timothy Ramsden 17 October
An outstanding theatre event: a too-rare chance to see a fine Australian playwright's work in a beautifully-played production.Ocean Theatre Company's strong revival of Cosi is an all-too-rare chance to see work by one of Australia's finest playwrights. The spacious Bridewell is perfect for the old theatre where young director Lewis, straight from uni, gets to work with a group of asylum inhabitants. It's another reminder of what a valuable venue London will lose when the theatre has to close early next year.
Cosi is an early work, set during the Vietnam war. Lewis nervously suggests his cast do Brecht but keen ex-actor Roy is determined to perform Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte. Deserted by his politically active director friend Nick and girl-friend Lucy, Lewis crumbles before the assembled cast (men and women enter separately, echoing, as with later developments between Lewis and his girl-friend, the opera's world of faltering trust between the sexes).
He gets it from all sides; his friends can't believe he's not doing something political, social worker Justin almost cancels the project, the aim of bringing the patients out of their shells seems unattainable as the volatile cast stay resolutely uncoordinated.
Andrew Miller's confident production finds humour and sympathy as Nowra's action sweeps along, expertly structured, giving each character an appropriate moment to develop. At its heart is people's need to hold their world together through politics, art or relationships. Gareth Howells holds the centre as Lewis, a character who often has to watch as his plans threaten to implode. Yet slowly he develops stronger two-way bonds than with his former friends.
Michael King's dangerous edge as Doug, the compulsive arsonist, Rob Carroll's musician, zonked out on pills, veer towards comedy. So, in a sense, does Natasha Magigi's ample Cherry, forever stuffing food in Lewis's mouth and seeking a spot of undying love with him. But Magigi, wheeling between soft desire and tough retribution, also generates sympathy, as does Gareth Richardson's ex-actor, a modern Bottom forever critical of his director. Alex McTavish's Ruth, desperate to be told precisely what to do and Fiona Putnam's self-aware but dependent Julie play truthfully through their serious moments.
And Henry Beynon's Henry makes his eventual patriotic outburst - producing toy soldiers from his pocket, locked in memories of his soldier-father killed in action - a gripping moment in a fine production.
Lucy: Amber Moelter
Lewis: Gareth Howells
Nick: Philip Leamon
Roy: Gareth Richardson
Justin: Steven Anstee
Doug: Michael King
Henry: Andrew Beynon
Cherry: Natasha Magigi
Ruth: Alex McTavish
Julie: Fiona Putnam
Zac: Rob Carroll
Director: Andrew Miller
Designer: Rebecca Care
Lighting: Tim Saunders
Sound: Dominique Pierre Louis
2004-10-18 09:20:06