SOLDIERS. To 21 August.
London
SOLDIERS
by Rolf Hochhuth Translated by Robert David MacDonald
Finborough Theatre To 21 August 2004
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Sun 3.30pm
Runs 2hr 10min One interval
TICKETS: 020 7373 3842
Finboroughtheatre.itgo.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 7 August
High-explosive play about Churchill and total war gets a timely, accomplished revival.This play's revival is timely; it seems stronger detached from the controversy around the 1968 British premiere. Only 3 years after muffled English church-bells had signalled Churchill's death (what other long-retired Prime Minister would they do that for?) was, for many, too soon to question the great man's memory
Though the main thrust concerns bombing civilians, it was the secondary theme strongly implied rather than presented with the graphic detail of carpet bombing that the British Prime Minister knew of, and probably approved, the deliberate assassination of Polish leader General Sikorski in a contrived air accident', that set the controversy alight.
History hasn't backed Hochhuth up on that. But by 2004 it's provided more than enough dire consequences of total war to keep the play's issues aflame. The theme's summed up, almost casually, in a moment when Churchill answers a phone call we don't know from whom, or about what. But, about whatever, to whomsoever, he says men must be sacrificed for the greater good.
The crunch debate comes between Churchill and Bishop Bell, a non-pacifist who believes civilians should not be targets. The role is finely-played by Graham Bowe, significantly doubled as Sikorski, Churchill's opposite in the other plot element. Poland wanted to open the question of Stalin's murder of Polish officers at Katyn; Churchill was not going to have his main alliance (one keeping multiple German divisions on the Russian campaign) upset.
Opposite Bell is Trevor Cooper's effectively grumbling, self-certain Churchill, large in personality as physicality and supported by his military men and the architect of saturation-bombing, Lord Cherwell (Stephen Kemble with a sinister mix of silky public school politeness and cold determination to win at any price). Rebecca Peyton shows the pain when belief in her chief clashes with the death of her Polish lover's boss.
The military don't always sit or speak in a military manner Richard Sandells shouldn't let rage make him forget rank and manner. But John Terry's production makes the play's points clearly and Alex Marker contrives an amazingly atmospheric sense of Churchill commanding from his bunker bed and London's wartime operations room.
Wing Commander Dorland: Richard Sandells
Captain Bohdan Kocjan/Group Captain Clark: Scott Brooksbank
2nd Officer Helen McDonald: Rebecca Peyton
General Alan Brooke: John Gorick
Winston Churchill: Trevor Cooper
Lord Cherwell: Stephen Kemble
General Wladyslaw Sikorski/George Bell, Bishop of Chichester: Graham Bowe
Director/Lighting/Sound: John Terry
Designer: Alex Marker
Assistant director: Mike Bartlett
2004-08-08 22:39:29