JUSTICE. To 20 August.

London

JUSTICE
by Christopher Hanvey

Old Red Lion 418 St John Street EC1 To 20 August 2005
Tue-Sun 8pm
Runs 1hr 35min One interval

TICKETS: 020 7837 7816
www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 5 August

Strong on political action and dissection, this short play has room to round-out its characters further.Christopher Hanvey's play depicts the wasteland created by years of political violence amongst Protestant Loyalists in Portadown, Northern Ireland. It's timely too for anyone who thought the invasion of Iraq would be a few days of guns and years of roses.

A process that started as political idealism, or necessity, turned to crime. As one character says, the leading Ulster politicians who renounced violence were the ones who'd encouraged the formation of hard-man protection organisations a few years before. Political labels are still there; behind them lies a mafia-style gang-turf struggle. One where Loyalists' old loyalties twist with commercial considerations.

At the centre of Hanvey's action is a restaurant run by Pinky McCrea, a hardman seemingly taking a softline. Pinky's opening Christmas celebration with friends is contrasted with a gangland beating and murder, both things that will reoccur. Drugs and guns ruin relationships and lives; so does the ruthless manipulation of anyone who wants to go straight but remains economically dependent on the moneymakers.

There are only 2 false notes, a brief indulgence in funny but unlikely talk about actors in Ulster and a final video sequence, soft-focus in mood if not photography, over-earnest yet flip in its superscriptions.

Unsurprisingly, this is a slice of society where men do things and women stay outside, Pinky's trophy-elegant wife supremely so. But the loving Chris's pregnant girlfriend Danielle is involved without his knowledge, her opening irritation linking to her own dependency. Their relationship is crucial to the plot, and is given significance by a beautifully-written marriage proposal, neither sentimental nor let down by the humorous aspect that enters in.

More such moments would round out a shortish play with a fuller sense of its individual characters' thought-processes and feelings, developing a smart political thriller into a significant piece deserving promotion' to a fuller production. Not that anything's missing in terms of clarity and commitment from Jessica Hrabowsky's production for Tiger Theatre Productions. But a young cast can't fully express the years of struggle, cynicism and hope lying within many of these characters. However, for now this is a production worth catching.

Chris Carson: Christopher Hanvey
Danielle Stephens: Francesca Dymond
Pinky McCrae: Nick Storton
Valerie McCrea: Sharlit Deyzac
Stevie Davidson: Leon Bearman
John Robinson: Chris Lehec
Kate Robinson: Jayne Young
Susie Taylor: Jessica Hrabowsky
Mark Beattie/Client: Andrew Ashenden

Director: Jessica Hrabowsky

2005-08-06 09:41:33