THE OBSERVER To 3 September.
London.
THE OBSERVER:
by Matt Sharman.
Cottesloe Theatre In rep to 3 September 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat & 4, 6, 13 Aug, 1 Sept. 2.30pm.
Audio-described 26 June, 27 June 2.30pm.
Captioned 24 Aug.
Runs 2hr 25min One interval.
TICKETS: 020 7452 3000.
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/tickets
Review: Carole Woddis 26 May.
Honourable play for our times.
Matt Sharman’s The Observer is a perfectly respectable, well-researched and honourable look at the role of western observers in foreign elections, their attitudes towards the countries they are operating in and the continuing role of former colonial powers. It’s extremely well acted, and nicely directed by Richard Eyre with a rising sense of climax. Why then does it not make the heart beat faster?
It’s certainly a play for our times. The one thing one can say for sure about the upcoming European election is that millions will not vote. Yet in Africa democracy and the right to vote is still a source of huge excitement – and violence. A play therefore that reflects back to us some of our own electoral apathy cannot but be a good thing.
Sharman’s play, set on the eve of a Presidential election in a fictional African state not a million miles from Zimbabwe, is definitely a good thing. It comes down on the side of the angels – Africans deciding their fate for themselves - and gets in a sizeable dig against the misplaced idealism of westerners, in this case Anna Chancellor’s seasoned UN observer, Fiona Russell. It also produces in Saunders, James Fleet’s Foreign Office official, a character who could have stepped straight out of a Graham Greene novel: the deracinated ex-pat, rumpled in spirit as well as linen suit.
Saunders, it turns out – this paradoxically, is the play’s most interesting feature - fills the title even more aptly than Fiona, around whom Sharman ostensibly shapes the play. Apparently based on the true story of an observer who tired of acting purely `impartially’, she becomes increasingly more involved in the election process with predictably mixed results.
And that perhaps is this Observer’s problem. Despite the fine work of Eyre and his cast - Chancellor, Chuk Iwuji as her translator (inevitably they are attracted to each other), Cyril Nri, Aïcha Kossoko, Louis Mahoney and Joy Richardson painting in the various atmospheres of polling stations, rural villages, hotel bedrooms and colonial gardens with dedicated detail, it is all too predictable. But Saunders, there’s an intriguing character…
Saunders: James Fleet.
Fabian/Henrik Peter Forbes.
Fiona Russell: Anna Chancellor.
Daniel Okeke: Chuk Iwuji.
Tony: Leo Bill.
Edi/Judy: Isabel Pollen.
Aarya/Dr Daramy/Wink/General Okute: Cyril Nri.
Kalifa: Aïcha Kossoko.
Declan: Lloyd Hutchinson.
Muturi/Mr Sesay: Louise Mahoney.
Madame Conteh/Waletta: Aïcha Kossoko.
Stenographer/Dudzile/Chimma: Joy Richardson.
Police Officer/Obinna/Soldier: Daon Broni.
Music played live by Paul Higgs (keyboards).
Director: Richard Eyre.
Designer: Rob Howell.
Lighting: Neil Austin.
Sound: Rich Walsh.
Music: Richard Hartley.
Projections: Jon Driscoll.
Igbo Language coach: Jude Akuwudike.
Company voice work: Kate Godfrey.
2009-05-29 01:51:11