FOUR NIGHTS IN KNARESBOROUGH. To 27 March.

Bolton

FOUR NIGHTS IN KNARESBOROUGH
by Paul Webb

Octagon Theatre To 27 March 2004
Mon-Sat7.30pm
Runs 2hr 30min One interval

TICKETS: 01204 520661
Review: Timothy Ramsden 20 March

Decent, if somewhat raw, production of comedy about the human trivialities underlying decisive historic events.Four knights, seen on four days over a year 1171, as they hole up in Fitz's Yorkshire hideaway having just murdered Thomas a Becket. Paul Webb's play starts with serious history, goes on to study character in unheroic action and ends with a splendid curtain-line.

When they acted in concert to assassinate the troublesome priest, these players couldn't have known they'd have to spend a year together, surrounded by angry public opinion and protected by an equivocal king. They're no quartet, blending harmoniously together. Brittle Brito, the low-caste one, violent Fitz who might have had the others for breakfast if he hadn't mysteriously lost control of his legs and their calmer companions go variously through constipation, shared baths, sexual insults and a raid on the local populace before ending up going to beg the Pope's pardon in Rome.

And they become an early heritage industry, once things have calmed down, putting on a show as they charge locals to watch them pray in penitence. It's a long way from their blow for progress, striking down enlightened monarch Henry II's former friend become arch-rival.

The twin tracks of history and human personality clashes give Webb's comedy its point one Mark Babych's production generally makes, despite some over-deliberate acting among the central quartet. Somehow the dynamics of the various relationships don't always snap into gear. Perhaps there's too much detail in expression, too little in voice.

The best work comes from the other roles. Laura Richmond's restrained, defensive Catherine critical observer and ultimately victim. And an object lesson in economical playing, at once realistic, comic and demanding respect, from Christopher Wright, silently impressive as the archbishop, angry as a pulverised local and, especially, earthily pointed as a paying sightseer who puts the men straight on a number of practical issues.

Richard Foxton's stony set's dominated by its table, which attracts Mark Babych's direction overmuch of the time a significant area of the stage is little used, adding to a sense of reserve that keeps the production from exploring fully the clashes of personality and force of events that animate the action.

Morville: Marshall Griffin
Brito: Ben Hull
Fitz: Graham McTavish
Catherine: Laura Richmond
Traci: Matthew Rixon
Becket/Wigmore/Visitor: Christopher Wright

Director: Mark Babych
Designer: Richard Foxton
Lighting: Thomas Weir
Sound: Andy Smith
Fight director: Ian Stapleton

2004-03-22 01:37:46