HELVER'S NIGHT. To 25 May.

London

HELVER'S NIGHT
by Ingmar Villqist translated by Jacek Laskowski

White Bear Theatre To 25 May 2003
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Sun 4pm
Runs 1hr 10min No interval

TICKETS: 020 7793 9193
admin@britpol.uktheatre.net
Review: Timothy Ramsden 18 May

A searing, harrowing drama with immaculate production and performances.Despite the Scandinavian-sounding pseudonym, Villqist is Polish, so a suitable case for production by Brit-Pol Theatre, which presents Polish plays in English. Let's hope they keep coming up with magnificent work like this political, and very human, parable.

Though the play avoids a specific location, central Europe mid-20th century seems the visual language of costumes and set. Yet it's a time of riot and revolt, while life tries to go on. Carla's cutting bread when Helver returns from a political parade.

He seems her son, though from his behaviour and enthusiastic references to Gilbert, who gave him his flag to wave, he'd appear to be younger than Tat Whalley suggests.

But their relationship's not so simple and Helver is younger in mind than body. Whalley captures an initial sense of threat, as he makes Carla carry out military manoeuvres. It's soon clear he's merely mimicking his own experiences. Vulnerability seeps out, as does Carla's intense love for the child who's substituted for her own, lost and brain-damaged, daughter.

There's an urgency to Tina Jones' Carla as she, in turn, puts Helver through his pacers to get away to safety. For his supposed friend Gilbert is leading a purge on the Helvers of his world. When Plan A miscarries, Jones brings a taut, restrained sorrow to her alternative solution, a tender, harrowing scene that goes beyond the mother's dilemma at the end of Ghosts.

Both performances show utter integrity, Whalley clearly charting our journey to Helver's true simplicity. There can be no harder condemnation of fanatical extremism than the way it has distorted this benevolent, trusting youth to stand uncomprehendingly in a crowd shouting 'Dirty scum' as people unable to protect themselves are hounded and beaten.

In Bulgaria the National Theatre produced Helver's Night. In Britain it's left to Kennington's tiny White Bear to show again how valuable a venue it is. For the quality's sky-high. Jones and Whalley are impeccable, as is Peter Czajkowski's strong direction, with its keen changes of mood and pace ensuring we see these characters as individuals as well as people caught in a political predicament.

Carla: Tina Jones
Helver: Tat Whalley

Director: Peter Czajkowski
Designer: Alex Stanbury
Lighting: Robin Snowdon
Sound: Mark D'Lacey
Music: Warren Wills
Costume: Rodney Worth

2003-05-19 00:26:33