HANGOVER SQUARE. To 2 August.
London.
HANGOVER SQUARE
by Patrick Hamilton adapted by Fidelis Morgan.
Finborough Theatre Finborough Road Brasserie 118 Finborough Road W10 9ED To 2 August 2008.
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat & Sun 3pm.
Runs 2hr 15min One interval.
TICKETS: 0844 847 1652 (24hr no booking fee)
www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk (online reduction in full-price tickets).
Review: Timothy Ramsden 11 July.
Compulsive trudge through a human mire.
If you’re finding Strindberg relentlessly optimistic, then Patrick Hamilton’s your man. By comparison, even the Rodney Ackland of Absolute Hell might seem a tad over-cheerful.
Ackland evoked post-war Fitzrovia. Hamilton’s novel, adapted by Fidelis Morgan to reflect its protagonist’s swirling mind in a swift delirium of action, shows a shifting, shifty and shiftless 1939 Earl’s Court, where super-infatuated George Harvey Bone is imprisoned by his obsession for aspiring actress Netta Longdon.
She borrows his money, showing contempt and exploiting his sexual desire while offering no satisfaction, as he mixes murderous thoughts with hopes of leaving this Hell to reach his Heaven of childhood happiness in Maidenhead (to Freudians’ delight; and Netta’s surname’s as close to London as can be).
Morgan’s dramatisation takes in Netta’s unpleasant fascist milieu and unthinking politics. But the alcohol, sexual obsession and seedy, superficial society merely frame Hamilton’s obsessive concern with degradation.
George Harvey Bone’s name creaks with the dry rottenness of old timber in every syllable. Matthew Flynn shows his big, initially powerful-seeming physique and his weak will, always a step behind, utterly guileless, gullible and beguiled. He’s a fool and bore, but his genuine relieved happiness when meeting a friend from the days before he fell – fell – for Netta wins him sympathy. Jamie de Courcey contrasts Bone well, with carefree jollity, as that friend.
Bone’s so obsessed even the part of his mind that warns him against himself and plots revenge, takes Netta’s shape. These are the only women in the play, as Netta’s the only one in Bone’s world, and Morgan has two actors swap the roles with increasing frequency as his mind slowly collapses. In Gemma Fairlie’s smart production, Clare Calbreath is sharp; morally urgent as the voice of conscience and cheaply shrill unless she wants something as Netta.
But Caroline Faber digs deep into the soul of rottenness, oozing selfishness at every pore, while momentarily showing Netta’s underlying despair in her expression. As the Girl she expresses the urgent need for resolution that counterpoints Bone’s despairing inability to act, bringing an extra dimension to intensify every moment she’s in the action.
Netta/Girl/Woman’s Voice/Lady/Mrs Chope: Caroline Faber
Netta/Girl/Receptionist: Clare Calbraith.
George Harvey Bone: Matthew Flynn.
Peter/Barman/Drexel: Gyuri Sarossy.
Eddie Carstairs/Train Porter/Man: Jonathan Kemp.
Waiter/S.Y.M/Hobbs Antony Eden.
Johnnie Littlejohn/Night Porter: Jamie de Courcey.
Director: Gemma Fairlie.
Designer: Alex Marker.
Lighting: Trevor Wallace.
Sound: Steve Mayo.
Movement: Anna Morrissey
Costume: Penn O’Gara.
2008-07-12 12:38:43