DEMOCRACY.

London

DEMOCRACY
by Michael Frayn

Wyndhams Theatre

Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 35min One interval

TICKETS: 0870 060 6633 (with handling fee)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 21 April 2004

Office politics and political office in a divided state.There are many laughs in Michael Frayn's serious new play, yet one of the best jokes comes from costume designer Sue Willmington. She kits out democratic West Germany's politicians in grey suits. Only Michael Simkins' East German Communist agent, voice of uniformity against democratic chaos, gets to wear a natty green suit with some hint of individuality.

West Germany's politics from the 1960s on is about staying in power, but something more serious too - a progressive government returns after 30+ years of Nazism followed by centre-right control in a Germany divided by mutual suspicion and the Berlin Wall. Head of Government is Roger Allam's Willy Brandt, exponent of the mass-appeal photo-opportunistic gesture: calming East German crowds with a sh-hhing' hand motion that also signifies patience for a re-united Germany, kneeling after laying a wreath on a Jewish memorial in public apology for the century's earlier horrors.

At the heart of Frayn's action are two beautifully contrasted characters. Allam's Brandt doesn't decipher the mystery of the leader's charisma (no-one ever did, most likely), but he explores its nature and impact. Silent, reflective possibly, or merely taking mental time out, he reaches decisions which reasoned or instinctive save the nation and the day.

If he's a bulwark, Conleth Hill's Gunter is a rat scampering at its feet. Worming his way up from office gofer, Gunter conceals his identity as East German spy for years helped by a misreading in the Bonn files. Weaselling his way around, using his growing confidence with the Chancellor to ferret out information (forgive the rodent-inclined menagerie, it makes the point) he maintains a love of his East German home and a belief in its government.

Gunter's at the centre of Frayn's main stage-trick, as he wheels round mid-speech to talk to his Communist controller. Hill handles the device superbly, peering from behind his specs, smiling eagerness plastered across his face, voice egregiously servile.

Even in this fine company, the excellent David Ryall stands out as Wehner, the party man, prepared to be hated, with his knotted expressions the opposite of a front man. First-rate, all-round.

Gunter Guillaume: Conleth Hill
Arno Kretschmann: Michael Simkins
Willy Brandt: Roger Allam
Horst Ehmke: Simon Chandler
Reinhard Wilke: Paul Gregory
Ulrich Bauhaus: Paul Broughton
Herbert Wehner: David Ryall
Helmut Schmidt: Glyn Grain
Hans-Dietrich Genscher: Nicholas Blane
Gunther Nollau: Christopher Ettridge

Director: Michael Blakemore
Designer: Peter J Davison
Lighting: Mark Henderson
Souynd: Neil Alexander
Costume: Sue Willmington
Associate director: Jenny Eastop

2004-04-23 12:57:16