LOOT till 29 November
Derby
LOOT: Joe Orton
Playhouse: Tkts 01332 363275
Runs: 2h 25m, one interval, till 29 November (Audio Described 26 Nov, Signed 27 Nov)
Review: Rod Dungate, 21 November 2003
Absorbing, funny, how does this compare with the play Orton wrote?
Cal McCrystal gives us an absorbing conundrum with his production of Orton's play (itself a conundrum is it a farce or not?!) There is no doubt that his production is funny at times very funny indeed: waves of laughter from the Playhouse's audience are witness to that. My difficulty is that this version of the comedy doesn't illuminate our lives nor the play rather it is at the play's expense. The conundrum is Does this matter?
Loot is Orton's play in which a bank robbery and funeral get intertwined, the grieving widower, McLeavy, becomes intertwined with the dead wife's nurse, while son Hal is intertwined with friend Dennis who is intertwined with the Nurse too. In order to add a morsel of confusion, Inspector Truscott insists he is from the Water Board. Orton, cynic extraordinaire ensures bad wins over good perhaps he was simply a realist.
Orton's outrageousness in this production is full frontal. Literally so as Mrs McLeavy's corpse is hilariously disrobed in front of us Lucy Montgomery (Fay) milking every moment with joyful naughtiness. Characters frequently step from the play and address us directly sometimes with Orton's text. And sometimes not . . . as when David Benson (Truscott) inserts a long section of impressions Kenneth Williams to Frankie Howerd to Leonard Rossiter. Funny, yes, but what's the point (other than being funny?)
Orton sweated blood over this script, rewriting it several times. This, in itself, doesn't matter it's a playwright's job. However, what Orton eventually created was a tight, taut, closely plotted farce (I believe it is a farce.) One that's broad, subtle and very, very hard edged. Orton packs a punch because he was angry.
My problem with McCrystal's approach is not that he's irreverent (that's a plus) but that he's softened the play it's become flabby. Orton's carefully constructed verbal fireworks fizzle out when lines are left isolated to appear out of the blue. The play is reduced in stature by McCrystal's failure to discover an overarching and unifying style. Where is the anger?
Matt Green and James Bachman (Hal and Dennis) both demonstrate fine stand-up ability in a mini routine which precedes the play. Green brings a wonderfully youthful innocence to Hal: Bachman, though, lacks the physical precision he needs truly to inhabit and ignite Dennis. Lucy Montgomery (Fay) shows enormous comedy skill physically and vocally flexible and greatly in command. She has a store of looks-that-can-kill whether withering or smouldering. David Benson (Truscott) injects marvellous energy but is too unvaryingly loud and on one note.
McLeavy: Clive Mendus
Fay: Lucy Montgomery
Hal: Matt Green
Dennis: James Bachman
Inspector Truscott: David Benson
Meadows: Mathew Baynton
Director: Cal McCrystal
Design: Andy Miller
Lighting: David Phillips
Sound: Paul Delaney
Video: Kit Lane
Fights: Alison de Burgh
2003-11-22 17:11:07