FAILED STATES. To 12 November.
London
FAILED STATES
by Andrew Taylor and Desmond O'Connor
Pleasance Theatre Carpenters Mews North Road Islington N7 9EF To 12 November 2006
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Sun 5pm Mat Sat 4pm
Runs 2hr 30min One interval
TICKETS: 020 7609 1800
www.pleasance.co.uk
Review: Geoff Ambler 2nd November 2006
A thought provoking, intelligent story set in a refreshingly original musical.
It has been said the current abundance of musicals in London has something for everyone. This was probably not the case until Failed States opened at Islington's Pleasance Theatre. A musical that makes you think is not that common a creature but this one does that in spades. Set around recent British laws that allow the state to imprison people suspected of terrorism without charge, access to representation or even the knowledge of the crime they are believed to have committed is a weighty subject and one that will not be fully dissected in two hours of dialogue and song, but writer/directors Andrew Taylor and Desmond O'Connor manage to leave you entertained and with more humour than you'd expect.
James Durrant's Joseph King plays an American resident incarcerated in the UK, when his legitimate business dealings in the Middle East come under scrutiny of the CIA and MI5, although not the nice lot seen on the BBC's Spooks. His life is then thrown into state-approved turmoil. His disintegrating sanity is explored and at times assisted by a guardian angel and watching his once promising future spiral downwards leaves you with a strong sense of unease. This is frequently emphasised by cuts to political decisions being made in the background, complete with a Blairesque figure and a team of spin doctors that are all too realistic.
The humour in the production is frequent enough to keep the mood from becoming too harrowing, too early, and is notably and wonderfully provided by a versatile Claire Ramsey and her protest choir. Any lightness however is tempered by the knowledge that this is not all fantasy. Katie Foster-Barnes' struggle to justify and maintain her loyalty to her fiancé is magnificently soulful and truly credible.
This is not a great musical but it is a good one; it is a solid and intelligent story, well told; it has a remarkable cast and just enough real life parallels to furrow your brows, when you leave the theatre deep in thought. Definitely worth an evening in Islingto'ns hidden gem of a theatre.
Joseph: James Durrant
Anya: Katie Foster-Barnes
Frank: Gavan Purdie
William: William El-Gardim
Ordinary Joe: Alexander Giles
Massoud: Hemi Yeroham
Clive: Graham Watson
Minister: James Price
Berol: Catherine Lake
Derek: Gareth Mullan
Stella: Victoria Stedford
Hannah: Emily Gilchrist
Jessica/Sally/Choir: Claire Ramsay
Directors: Andrew Taylor, Desmond O'Connor
2006-11-05 20:17:25