ONE MINUTE. To 5 July.

Sheffield/Tour

ONE MINUTE
by Simon Stephens

ATC theatre company and Sheffield Theatres at the Crucible Studio Theatre to 21 June 2003 then tour
Mon-Sat 7.45pm no performance Mon 16 Mat 14,19,21 June 3pm
Runs 1hr 25min No interval

TICKETS: 0114 249 6000 (Sheffield)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 7 June

Tough material handled with feather-light ease: elusive and allusive.I spent some time dissatisfied with Simon Stephens' new play. Then as I gradually realised how impressive it is, I wondered why. The answer's in his recent play for Manchester's Royal Exchange. Port was such a fine portrait of a remarkable 'ordinary' woman given a blazing performance - that this new piece seemed to lack a centre, a heart.

It doesn't, but it's no surprise to find that one of the techniques important to its genesis was walking. Beating the pavements and pathways of London (ironically, North London's the determined setting for this contribution to the Crucible's 'Sheffield First' season), observing and talking to people, has given the play an elusive quality Trying to pin down events or characters is like trying to grasp fluttering butterflies.

There is city-serious material in the background. A university teacher's child is missing assumed abducted; increasingly presumed dead. A policeman searches, consoles the mother. He invites a pub barmaid out. She's having none, and won't serve his scorching thirst with an after-hours drink either.

At other times she talks to a woman who might have seen the child being abducted a nervous witness. Another policeman dresses smartly but comes out with racist insults he sees as 'Just a word'.

No-one really sizes up the consequences of their actions. It's as if no-one can. Partly this is because they're so dug-deep into their concerns. Partly it's the city's eerie propensity, explored in set speeches. Marie-Louise describes how a night-time West End full of children becomes deserted while she's briefly in a sweet-shop. A policeman finds the garish familiarity of MacDonalds a comforting talisman after walking dark, suddenly alien streets.

Gordon Anderson's spare production - on an aptly minimal, comfortless set lacking a real centre - is strikingly concentrated, its own alienation increased by a moment of ensemble silence as life momentarily stops. Five undemonstrative yet deeply felt performances are individually excellent and superbly graduated according to situation.

Possibly the show of the summer - not to be missed.

DI Gary Burroughs: Simon Wolfe
DC Robert
Evans: Tom Ellis
Dr Anne Schults: Teresa Banham
Marie Louise Burdett: Lucy Black
Catherine Denham: Sarah Paul

Director: Gordon Anderson
Designer: Anthony MacIlwaine
Lighting: Nigel Edwards
Composer: Julian Swales

2003-06-10 01:06:37