PUGILIST SPECIALIST tours till 29 May

Southampton and touring

The Riot Group in
PUGILIST SPECIALIST
by Adriano Shaplin

Seen at Nuffield Theatre, Southampton and tours to 29 May 2004
Runs 1hr 10mins No interval

Review Hazel Brown 5 March 2004

A brilliant, visceral exposé of the military mindset
This is an invigorating and intellectually demanding play, taking a visceral and incisive look at the American (or any) military machine. Drawing on texts as far apart Moby Dick and the Marine Corps Manual, Adriano Shaplin's play paints a picture of how army operations are built up and then fall apart and gives a terrifying insight into the military mindset.

Four highly trained marines are brought together for a secret operation. Though they all are supposed to work together, each, despite military training, still has his or her own agenda. Lt. Emma Stein is an explosives expert who has had problems in the past in gaining recognition within the macho world that is the army. She arrives declaring Punctuality is my femininity. Lt. Harpo Studdart is in charge of data retrieval and communications, a hard-headed cyborg who joined the marines so he did not have to think. Lt Travis Freud, the sniper, is loud, politically incorrect and bawdy. Col Johns, a suave, career officer, arrives to brief the unit on their mission. The tight one-liners come thick and fast, like Victory forgives dishonesty and If at first you don't succeed, redefine success.

Using such cold, stark language, the four come together to carry out the assassination of a Middle Eastern Leader, code-named the Bearded Lady. There is very little actual movement all the speeches and conversations are delivered straight to the audience, not from one character to another just a rearrangement of the two benches, with the characters moving into or sitting within a spotlight. They could be the flat, front facing faces of television newsreaders, or just the voices of those involved being replayed on audio tapes as the failed mission is examined afterwards. This, however, ensures complete concentration on what is being or not being said.

A timely, thought-provoking play that lives with you long after the event. Another triumph for the Riot Group.

CAST
Lt. Emma Stein: Stephanie Viola
Lt. Studdard: Drew Friedman
Lt. Travis Freud: Adriano Shaplin
Col. Johns: Paul Schnabel

Production collaboratively directed and designed by the cast

2004-03-16 16:03:04