THE SOLID GOLD CADILLAC.

London

THE SOLID GOLD CADILLAC
by Howard Teichmann and George S. Kaufman

Garrick Theatre
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 5min One interval

TICKETS: 0870 890 1104
Review: Timothy Ramsden 28 September

Good-humoured, mild-mannered satire from an old New World.This mid-fifties comedy came when George Kaufman had lost confidence as a writer, insisting his less celebrated co-author take main credit. Clearly, Kaufman was a judicious self-critic. Even in mid-term Eisenhower complacency, the piece must have been old-fashioned. As an attack on corporate greed it remains temptingly relevant; but at the centre it's soggy as a diluted marshmallow.

A self-confessed fairy-tale, rooted in Hollywood-style liberal, folksy mythology (sending decent little people to bring good sense to centres of power and self-importance) this is big-city Cinderella. Corporate greed and skulduggery take a kicking from Laura Partridge who, if she were a man, would have been the Jimmy Stewart part bumbling decency eventually getting its way with honest simplicity against the wiles of big business.

The authors employ a trick which helps their plot but undermines their theme. As in so many pre-1960s attacks on corruption the top dog's always a good guy. Ex-boss of General Products, Ed McKeever (Roy Hudd seriously affable in a part demanding more force) returns from Washington where his clean-hands have refused to grease palms on behalf of his old company. Though devoid, Lear-like, of power he somehow helps Laura ride on to a happy ending.

All very obvious, and feeble whenever the writers try fleshing out the central story. But director Ian Brown smoothes the ride by filling scene-changes with split-screen period docu-sequences and cartoon graphics. And there's fine acting among the fat-cat foursome, ranging from David Ross (nearest to a nice guy, still practical enough to be incredibly - turning a chair leg during a board meeting) to Teddy Kempner's Mr Nasty accounts man, all sneers and gloats.

Supremely, there's Patricia Routledge's Laura, a tour de considerable force. Rising from nervous near-mumbles to confident declarations, always shrewd (as in her gently sharp discouragement of McKeever's thespian ambitions), Routledge repeatedly scores on reactions, carrying on her folksily merry way till others' words sink in and the response bounces back at in an instant. It's always consistent with her character and, seconded by Lucy Briers in a typically clean, pointed performance, it almost saves the show.

T John Blessington: Michael Elwyn
Alfred Metcalfe: David Ross
Warren Gillie: Fred Ridgeway
Clifford Snell: Teddy Kempner
Laura Partridge: Patricia Routledge
Miss Amelia Shotgraven: Lucy Briers
Mark Jenkins/Dwight Brookfield/I>N>S> Reporter: Nick Haverson
Miss L' Arriere/Miss Logan/Estelle Evans: Kate-Lynn Hocking
Edward L McKeever: Roy Hudd
A.P. Reporter: Joshua Levine
U.P. Reporter/Bill Parker: Derek Howard
Reporter: Lucy Liemann
Old Lady: Janet Hargreaves

Director: Ian Brown
Designer: Ruari Murchison
Lighting: Oliver Fenwick
Sound/Projection Designer: Mic Pool
Associate director: Jamie Lloyd

2004-09-29 10:02:31