The Visit: ‘Sardonic and Stylish’ – Play Review
Why do play reviews these days so often proffer a convoluted analogy about how events on stage mirror our contemporary political malaise? It’s because most play reviewers are pompous pseudo-intellectuals… a bit like me. I shall now attempt this feat on Mr Kerr’s witty adaptation of ‘The Visit’, a 1950s German language play by a man who categorised Marxism a religious movement. Here goes…
Crapstone lies beyond the ken of the urban elite and even passenger trains don’t stop there anymore. The people are disenfranchised and impoverished until a majestic but mendacious charlatan returns promising prosperity for all – with a bloody caveat. The promise seduces, leading the people to betray their sense of humanity and inflict a gross wound on themselves in the belief it will improve their lives, once and for all. In other words, Brexit.
I’m not really sure that my analogy stands up, but what certainly did stand up was the performance of perhaps the best-drilled, most talented cast even seen in a school play. The cold, callous contempt of Claire Zachanassian was epitomised in Rosie G’s depiction: a rich dramatic achievement. Amelia P and Amadi G, two veterans when it comes to lead parts in school plays, were utterly assured and, at times, made it impossible to believe this was a school play. Connall C, the leading man, really excelled in the second act as his character’s plight brought the play’s dark moral issues uncomfortably to the surface. In fact, the entire cast was sensationally good: even the two Year 13 boys whose balaclavas and sunglasses prevented any true acting did well not to fall off the elaborate stage runway on any of the three nights.
Toby C was a compelling policeman; Savannah and Isabella did an extremely entertaining turn as Siamese twins, Larson and Parson; Jaz S was a highly entertaining sidekick; Lily R shone as Mrs Ill; and when it was their turn to step into the spotlight, all of the supporting cast proved themselves wonderfully talented: Josie R, Rachel A, Ben W, Ali N, Jess D, Jessie J, Leila and Gen.
Even those in non-speaking roles contributed excellently to what was a truly imaginative performance. Theatre in the round is too often impressive in principle but not in practice; this, however, was slick and engaging. The narrative was woven wonderfully into subtle staging schemes and sensational set pieces (special mention to Miss Archard for executing a highly skilful technical score). The moments of tension within the woods, with audience members left to feel uncomfortably voyeuristic, were a masterstroke, as was the memorable arrival of Zachanassian’s entourage and the brutal delivery of mob justice at the play’s denouement. The wanton dancing at the close provocatively reinforced a sense of the moral vacuum to have set in at Crapstone (‘Toxic’ indeed), yet somehow it was possible to the leave the auditorium feeling really quite uplifted. And not thinking at all about Brexit.
Mr Kerr and company, The Bubble salutes you.
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