THE CLEARING: Shared Experience, Edmundson, Bham Rep, then tour till 1 June

Birmingham

THE CLEARING: Helen Edmundson
Shared Experience at The Door, Birmingham Rep
Runs: 2h 40m, one interval, till 16 March, then touring till 1 June

Tkts: Bham Rep 0121 236 4455
Performances 7.45, mat 2.45 Sat 16 March

Review Rod Dungate, 11 March 2002

High quality acting, but the play fails to grab your attentionOpen, honest and moving acting are the hallmark of this production. There is a sensitivity and passion about each performance that is genuinely worth seeing. However, THE CLEARING is unsatisfying as a complete theatre experience: Helen Edmundson's 1993 play feels old fashioned and, at the end of the day, leads nowhere.

Set in the early 1650s, the play tells the story of Robert Preston, minor English gentry, living on his Irish estate with his young Irish wife Madeleine: at the opening she gives birth to their first son, Ralph. An elderly neighbouring estate owner, Solomon Winter is a one-time member of King Charles's army. The play is set against the forced removal of the Commonwealth's 'enemies' (Irish and Charles supporters) from their land, either to the wilder regions of Ireland ('beyond the Pale') or abroad.

There is no doubt that terrible, terrible atrocities have been committed between England and Ireland throughout the long and troubled history of their relationship. But Edmundson's mistake is to assume that if she retells an episode, albeit passionately, that the retelling will mean something. The contrary is true, and the brutal fact is the story is predictable, lacking in surprise and the play's passion teeters on the edge of posturing.

Edmundson has allowed her heart to rule her head. Sir Charles Sturman, English governor of the region, is a character who could be used to create an element of debate, but Edmunson's myopic view has allowed her to draw a poorly two-dimensional character that Richard Attlee's considerable talents can hardly breath life into. Madeleine's life-long friend, fey Killaine and Irish patriot Pierce Kinsellagh seem pastiche's out of Yeats or Synge.

Aislin McGuckin (Madeleine) rides the emotional helter-skelter of her character with great skill and is a joy to watch. Joseph Millson (Englishman Robert Preston) looks every inch the fine English gentleman and has the restrained manners too. Moments with his wife when he lets his guard drop are telling. Amelda Brown (neighbour Susaneh Winter) gives a tough, subdued performance with a highly charged final scene, Brown is a strong actor and, in this production, somewhat under-used.

Cast:
Sir Charles Sturman: Richard Attlee
Susaneh Winter: Amelda Brown
Solomon Winter/ Appeal Judge: Pip Donaghy
Madeleine Preston: Aislin McGuckin
Killaine Farrell: Mairead McKinley
Robert Preston: Joseph Millson
Pierce Kinsellagh/ Sailor/ Commissioner of Transplantation: Patrick Moy

Director: Polly Teale
Design: Angela Davies
Composer: Peter Salem
Lighting: Jason Taylor

Tour: Clwyd Theatr Cymru: Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford: New Wolsey, Ipswich: Arts, Cambridge: Playhouse, Newcastle: Tricycle, London: Playhouse, Oxford

2002-03-12 22:33:21