THE GREEN MAN. To 22 March.

London

THE GREEN MAN
by Doug Lucie

Bush Theatre To 22 March 2003
Mon-Sat 8pm
Runs 1hr 40min No interval

TICKETS: 020 7610 4224
www.bushtheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 3 March

Veritas in vino, spirits and the odd coffee.Downstairs, a pub: the restyled Bush. Above, a pub, the frowsty Green Man, where Doug Lucie's characters hang out. Lucie's dialogue cracks along, in the hands, and mouths, of five superb performers, mainly from the current mid-generation of British actors their consistent work makes the PR preening of publicity-glam. 'stars' look ridiculous.

Lucie offers a sweetened pill, and as the early hours of the morning before the prospective fishing-trip wear on, the flavouring's licked away, leaving a raw social microcosm underneath.

There's plenty of rough-male talk; not surprising considering the amount of alcohol three of these men down (a kind of long night's journey into day). Leading the ferocity is builder Mitch, Mr Success. He wins at cards, he pulls the birds, he even beats the fruit-machine. But it's hollow excess and Danny Webb's expert fizz and fury can't hide the ready-made villain in this misogynistic, homophobic character.

His opposite is Lou eventual lifesaver to Mitch's destroyer - still renting his home, content to carry on labouring, arguing the moral toss and holding to a sense of communal responsibility. Phil Daniels looks ten years too young for Lucie's 'fiftyish' prescription: like someone still with a future.

But it's a fine performance, built on a firm, subtly limited vocal range, and deliberate, controlled movement backing up the thoughtful mood emphasised by specs and beard this is someone sticking to a moral ground (if not a moral high-ground) and so always able to out-argue Mitch.

Lucie's few plot-lines hang around. Burn Gorman's young Greg is poacher-turned-gamekeeper, having left Mitch's workforce for surveying, still to decide if he'll compromise standards to keep in with the big man of local building. Gorman's fluid features show someone who could fall either way. It's a shame Lucie has him sleeping so much of the later scenes off.

Nor does he quite know where to take John Ramm's landlord, who ends up giving up the struggle, for sun and sand. But Julie Legrand, the sole female voice, provides a long oasis in her quiet scene with Lou. It's beautifully precise, showing both sympathy and understated disappointment.

Lou: Phil Daniels
Greg: Burn Gorman
Linda: Julie Legrand
Bernie: John Ramm
Mitch: Danny Webb

Director: Simon Stokes
Designer/Costume: Matthew Wright
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Sound: Matt Dando

2003-03-04 11:28:43