Edinburgh - Damascus

Edinburgh 2007 Fringe.

DAMASCUS
by David Grieg.

Traverse Theatre, Cambridge St. To 26 August 2007.
Tue–Sun. Various times.
Runs 2hr 30min One interval.

TICKETS. 0131 228 1404 or Fringe BO 0131 226 0000.
www.traverse.co.uk
Review Thelma Good 7August 2007.

Too long but often comic.
Strangers and misunderstanding are familiar themes in David Grieg’s plays, but this too long, though often comic, play doesn’t drive towards its ending as do, say The Speculator, San Diego or The Cosmonaut’s Last Message…. This one meanders and side steps - does Grieg have a novel he needs to get out of his system?

Philip Howard’s crisp direction and the very strong cast help. Paul Higgins’s diffident salesman is a striking contrast to his frighteningly barking Jamie in Armando Iannucci’s “The Thick Of It”.

Scot Paul flies into Damascus to clinch a deal supplying textbooks for an Institute’s English language course. He wants to be on the plane out the next day but Damascus isn’t like home. As he points out to his boss, who’s ducked this trip for a conference in the Caribbean, this is a war zone - the hotel lobby’s TV screen confirms it.

Sure enough, events conspire and he’s unable to get away soon. But eager Zakaria, manning reception, ministers to his every need, serving drinks, meals. He tells Paul he wants to get a visa and write more film scripts. Feeble Paul’s like most foreigners, he isn’t really listening.

Depending on the time of day, Ukrainian-accented, hotel pianist Elena plays anodyne music from various genres. She seems to be making notes though no one speaks to her.

Among the amusing moments Muna,, from the Institute, and Paul discuss the nuances of English grammar and their countries’ differences. They try to find ways of adjusting the course; it’s not easy. Paul has written it to portray a multicultural Britain where Duane buys rock and roll albums from Rabbi Samuels. Muna’s a woman whose radicalism has been suppressed by events. Her non-English speaking boss, the Dean, is a frustrated though published poet. Before they place an order they need the approval of the Ministry.

There’s a fair mix of ideas and themes, and a translation scene that’s a gem. But Greig’s attempt to do that terrifically difficult thing, flip a play from comedy to a tragic end, doesn’t come off.

Elena: Dolya Gavanski.
Paul: Paul Higgins.
Zakaria: Khalid Laith.
Muna: Nathalie Armin.
Wasim: Alex Elliot.

Director: Philip Howard.
Designer: Anthony MacIlwaine .
Lighting: Chahine Yavroyan.
Sound; Graham Sutherland.
Composer/Arranger: Jon Beales.
Dialect coach: Ros Steen.
Assistant director: David Overend.

2007-08-09 17:18:27