POOL DEATH. To 22nd March 2003

Salisbury

POOL DEATH
by Zöe Lewis

Salisbury Playhouse - Salberg Studio To 22 March 2003 Mon-Sat 7.45 pm Mat 13,20,22 March 3pm

Runs 1hr 20min. No Interval

TICKETS: 01722 320333: http://www.salisburyplayhouse.com
Review Mark Courtice: 28th February 2003

The boozing bustling world of the crime/sports aristocracy.
At Salisbury's studio, this brand new play tackles father and son territory, a neat counterpoint while David Hare's Amy's View upstairs looks at mothers and daughters.

It's party time - Vince has reached the snooker championship final, while father Vance is celebrating his release from custody after the witnesses to a murder rap against him have all disappeared. Journalist Minnie has been invited to write a feature on the all-successful father and son duo, as Vance's final public rehabilitation. Vince, however, needs a quiet chat with Dad, alone ..

Almost the whole of the stage is taken up by the green baize prairie of a full size table, in Vance's snooker room. This leads to two problems; firstly, everything happens at the edges, constraining the physicality of the piece, a shame as this is an effective way this production explores Essex man sensibilities; and secondly, the actors have to play on the thing. Often the whole audience held their collective breath as the champ failed to pot yet another sitter.

The first half of the play, when the characters drink a huge amount and finally get to Vince's revelation, feels under-developed but at the end the natural tension of a thriller starts to kick in and the play suddenly gains excitement, a point and real energy.

Vincenzo Nicoli invests hood Vance with character and personality as well as the necessary menace and bustling physical presence. Gerard Monaco has less to give as Vince but convinces in all but his abilities as a snooker player. In a play written and directed by women, Joy Brook has legitimate grounds for complaint at the mechanistic role of Minnie, but she makes the most of unpromising material, and the best line of the play, which is hers.

It is good to see a new play given proper production values; there is effective lighting and sound, good costumes, and authentic detail - an impressive 17 suppliers are credited by stage management for help with the drinks props helping to create a real picture of the aristocracy of the worlds of both sport and crime.

Vance Best: Vincenzo Nicoli
Vince Best: Gerard Monaco
Minnie Savidge: Joy Brook

Director: Joanna Read
Designer: Su Houser
Lighting: Peter Hunter
Sound: David Bennion-Pedley

2003-03-02 10:03:13