THE SCHUMAN PLAN. To 25 February.

London

THE SCHUMAN PLAN
by Tim Luscombe

Hampstead Theatre To 25 February 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 3pm
Audio-described 18 Feb 3pm
Transcribed 20 Feb
Post-show talk 21 Feb
Runs 2hr 35min One interval

TICKETS: 020 7722 9301
www.hampsteadtheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 11 February

A play contrasting political ideals and processes.
Halfway through the 20th century, and half a decade after the end of World War II, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman announced a plan to knit Europe’s nations into an economic alliance which would prevent another conflict.

Schuman was fronting a scheme devised by Jean Monnet. Beginning as a coal and steel alliance it became the Common Market. But such economic terms concealed a political plan which from the start, had the political super-state ambitions now known as ‘federalism’.

Tim Luscombe’s new play explores the bright hopes and dark results of a plan which began with creating the super-state, then went on to devise a constitution – the one being voted out of court virtually as this play was being written.

He roves between decades and nations. Clement Attlee, stiff with lumbago, sees Monnet’s ideals as a Catholic conspiracy and won’t keep the Labour Party National Executive waiting by discussing it. Attlee seems off-beam till the play’s final, 2006, scene. Islamic Turkey’s desire to join Europe provokes a Christian reaction firm as any US bible-belt Bushman could provide.

Bill Bretherton is the play’s common thread; an idealistic pro-Schuman man in 1950 (allowed to say more, surely, than Attlee would have allowed such a minor Civil Servant) he faces death when he trying to stand against traditional Sicilian ways with Common Agricultural Policy subsidies, and disillusion back in his Suffolk home when enforcing the Common Fisheries Policy demands a local fisherman burn his boat, a consummation devoutly never wished back in the idealistic mid-century.

Luscombe and the actors employ some old-style political theatre roughness when representing actual politicians, a tough job in a scene or two; stiff-mannered pro-Euro PM Ted Heath is a particularly tough-nut to recreate. And there’s a lot of standing around talking in Anthony Clark’s sympathetic production (at times radio seems this play of ideas’ home).

But as the initial glow is replaced by the fisherman’s livelihood in flames, as Britten and Elgar alternate with Beethoven, whose Euro-anthem Choral Symphony finale provides a concluding ironic upbeat, Luscombe’s intelligent marshalling of themes overcomes doubts about specific moments in his play.

Albert/Ken/Clement Attlee/Trygve Bratelli/Jan/Ciccio: Sean Baker
Bill: Robert Hands
Kit/Lis/Pippa/Selima/Frau Bettendorf: Elizabeth Hurran
Hilary/Mrs L/Marcella: Carolyn Pickles
Teddy Heath/Jean Monnet/MacLean/Gaetano/Priest: Simon Robson

Director: Anthony Clark
Designer: Liz Cooke
Lighting: Bruno Poet
Sound: Gregory Clarke
Voice/dialect coach: Jeanette Nelson
Assistant director: Sarah Tipple

2006-02-12 14:20:01