GETHSEMANE at the National Theatre This is London
This is the third of David Hare's recent plays drawing on public events to be seen at the National, and the only one which he professes to be purely fictional. Yet it doesn't take a great leap of imagination to see the similarities between the characters on stage and those who were in power not so long ago.
In a scenario not a million miles away from Christopher Shinn's recent ‘Now or Later’ at the Royal Court (in which the behaviour of a potential US president's son sparks a damage limitation crisis) Tamsin Greig's Home Secretary Meredith (whose husband's wealth has come from dubious dealings) is additionallysaddled with a sullen, privately educated, 16 year old daughter, Suzette, who has been caught indulging in illegal substances. It's all been hushed up, but even Meredith is unaware of the behind the scenes machinations involving smooth talking pop music mogul turned political fund-raiser Otto (Stanley Townsend).
Nicola Walker has her work cut out trying to make Suzette's idealised and idealistic ex-teacher, Lori, a convincing creation, but there are still confrontations to relish – particularly Meredith's audience with Anthony Calf's manipulative, drum-playing PM.
Ultimately, though (despite his intelligent observations and strongly felt criticism of New Labour) on current evidence, the further Hare moves away from fact, the less involving and hardhitting the result proves to be.
Cottesloe Theatre
Louise Kingsley
In a scenario not a million miles away from Christopher Shinn's recent ‘Now or Later’ at the Royal Court (in which the behaviour of a potential US president's son sparks a damage limitation crisis) Tamsin Greig's Home Secretary Meredith (whose husband's wealth has come from dubious dealings) is additionallysaddled with a sullen, privately educated, 16 year old daughter, Suzette, who has been caught indulging in illegal substances. It's all been hushed up, but even Meredith is unaware of the behind the scenes machinations involving smooth talking pop music mogul turned political fund-raiser Otto (Stanley Townsend).
Nicola Walker has her work cut out trying to make Suzette's idealised and idealistic ex-teacher, Lori, a convincing creation, but there are still confrontations to relish – particularly Meredith's audience with Anthony Calf's manipulative, drum-playing PM.
Ultimately, though (despite his intelligent observations and strongly felt criticism of New Labour) on current evidence, the further Hare moves away from fact, the less involving and hardhitting the result proves to be.
Cottesloe Theatre
Louise Kingsley
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