POOL (NO WATER). To 18 November.

London

POOL (NO WATER)
by Mark Ravenhill
Lyric Theatre Hammersmith Top 18 November 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm
Runs: 1hr 30min No interval

TICKETS: 08700 500 511
www.lyric.co.uk
Review: Harriet Davis, 3 November

Pool remains empty.
Given Mark Ravenhill’s track record of brutal, quasi-naturalist plays, it may come as a surprise to some that his latest offering was produced in collaboration with the ever-excellent – and highly physical – Frantic Assembly. Set in the dream-like space of an empty swimming pool, it centres on the lives of four narcissistic, small-time artists as they attempt to deal with a close friend’s rapid ascent to stardom.

The action comes to a head when the artist-friend invites the group to spend a few weeks in her shoes (specifically, her pool); they duly accept and slither their way into her life, eating her food, using her home, and utilizing – in more ways than one - her fitness instructor. Shortly after their arrival, in a cruel but convenient twist of fate, their host suffers a tragic accident and is left crippled and fighting for life.

Raising crucial questions about friendship, loyalty and the inherently self indulgent nature of art, the bitterly jealous artists take the opportunity to create a macabre collage of images of their unconscious victim, with apparent focus on the beauty of the ‘healing process’. When this novelty wears thin, they entertain themselves with the sexual and physical abuse of her body; effectively torturing her unconscious form.

Despite strong performances from a cast clearly used to working in one another’s company, the production falls flat after the opening half-hour. Ravernhill’s drug-addled egomaniacs do little to endear themselves to the audience and with the visceral shocks arriving so early on, we are robbed of any genuine sense of climax. In addition, the direct-address style of the piece leaves little opportunity for the cast to interact. The characters are consequently limited, and fail to develop individually.

Mirium Buether’s economic set works well, and is fully utilized throughout. The music is faultless; both delicate and brutal, it has an overwhelming, cinematic quality. There are several moments, particularly in the first half, when the sheer visual momentum is almost enough to carry us, but when those moments pass we are left with little to cling to. Compelling, at times joyous to watch, but ultimately empty.

Cast: Keir Charles, Cait Davies, Leah Muller, Mark Rice-Oxley

Directors/Choreographers: Scott Graham, Steven Hoggett
Designer: Mirium Buether
Lighting: Natasha Chivers
Music: Imogen Heap
Video and Projection: Jacob Love

2006-11-05 21:05:39