Damascus *** TNT

Wednesday 25 February 2009

Author of English Language textbooks Paul finds himself confused and seduced by the city of Damascus when he is deputed to pitch his work to Syrian contact Muna and her less receptive boss and former lover, Wasim, in David Greig’s new comedy of cultural misunderstandings.

Premiered in Edinburgh last year, it’s an intelligent (though not altogether convincing) exploration of the subtle confusions of language and the greater discrepancies of attitude between the West and the Middle East. Paul Higgins’ dishevelled, and (until he decides to lie to his wife back home) likeable Scottish Paul is forced to look at his carefully penned and politically correct chapters from the point of view of a country with different values. But while he cannot resist the allure of the unfamiliar ancient city, the doggedly persistent porter cum receptionist of his three star hotel (Khalid Laith’s Zakaria) dreams desperately of getting laid by American tourists and finding fame in Hollywood with the story of his life.

With a transsexual ex-KGB pianist commenting languidly from the sidelines, the production often veers, intentionally, away from realism, but the conflicts of understanding are cleverly conveyed and the grim news (quietly streamed onto the large TV screen in the lobby) is a constant reminder of less palatable truths beyond the confines of the hotel.

Tricycle, Kilburn High Road, NW6 (020 7328 1000) to 7th March (£10.00-£20.00)