TENDER: Morgan, Bham Rep

Birmingham

TENDER: Abi Morgan
Birmingham Rep: Tkts 0121 236 4455
Runs: 2h 20m, One interval
Review: Rod Dungate, 15th October 2001

A bleak 21st Century message, sharp dialogue but the play lacks flair

Abi Morgan's play TENDER is about lack of connection, about people's inability to care or to love: in Morgan's world everyone craves love but almost noone, apparently, can give it honestly. If you give love generously you're likely to become an emotional doormat. It's difficult to see quite where the TENDER comes in, except that everyone is, in themselves tender, rendering them easy, if not exactly willing, victims.

Many playwrights are writing on this theme of 21st century disconnection: it seems our modern lifestyles leave no room for meaningful relationships – Marber's play CLOSER, recently reviewed at the Rep is one, for instance. However, Morgan's play shows none of the skill or flair that makes some other bleak-world plays bearable.

There is plenty of sharp dialogue that is a delight. However, the play is a succession of conversations with little action, and although Anthony Clark directs with his usual skill and paces individual scenes sharply, he cannot hide the lack of forward movement in the play and eventually even the dialogue becomes hard to take. This is even more the case as characters frequently stop everything to make speeches at other characters. This sometimes happens in the most unlikely of situations – like supermarkets.

The result is that we find noone with whom we can empathise and so we care little what happens to any of them.

Some fine performances though. Kate Fleetwood is strong as Tash, a dislikable young woman, incapable of forming intimate ties and who talks rapidly and non-stop. David Kennedy is totally believable as builder Al and Mick Bagnall displays an endearing vulnerability as hospital houseman, Squeal.

Cast:
Squeal: Nick Bagnall
Hen: Caroline Faber
Tash: Kate Fleetwood
Al: David Kennedy
Nathan: Sean O'Callaghan
Gloria: Nicola Redmond
Marvin: Benny Young

Director: Anthony Clark
Design: Niki Turner
Sound: Gregory Clarke
Lighting: Vince Herbert

2001-10-16 08:34:16