Steven Birkoff's 'East' was written and first performed in 1975 and tells (mostly in verse) about the trials and tribulations of life and growing up in the tough environs of London's East End. Times have changed, and it is now more than 50 years since the play's premiere, and London's gangster-ridden and seedy run-down tenement areas are not what they were; however, the play still seemed to resonate and stay relevant to today's fractured and edgy society - a society that still divides itself over politics (although Mosely and the Blackshirts are thankfully no more...!), and a society that still has a huge population of poorly educated working class who are still just as misogynistic, horny, and lazy. Times might well have changed, but somehow, people haven't - at least not fundamentally, despite all efforts and appearances to the contrary.
Directed by Alan Pattison, this production was 90 minutes through without interval, which, especially in an auditorium without air-conditioning on one of the hottest days of the year, felt long. The play had a rather slow start, but thankfully the pace and the mood soon picked up and the cast were engaging, sensitive, and able to hold our attention for the full 90 minutes. It was a very Brechtian production. 5 plastic chairs were set in a long line to the rear o0f the stage facing the audience, and the five cast members stayed there when not actually in a particular scene, and became background for the action up front. It worked nicely and added much needed variety to an otherwise very bare stage.
The play takes the form of a series of vignettes (interconnected) but the two protagonists Mike (Alex Lafferty) and Les (David Degiorgio) have their work cut out right from the start. Both were excellent, with Degiorgio just taking the edge for me. Their characterisations and interpretations were measured to a tee and I actually do remember seeing characters (albeit in their northern skins) like this myself! Aiding and abetting them was Lisa Brandreth as Sylv, making her mark as the strong independent slut of the 1970s with seeming ease. Steve Connolly worked well playing against type as Dad, and, in the tradition of this play, Andrew Marsden put on a dress and headscarf to play Mum with some well-timed facial expressions. The Nora Batty tights were inspired. All, five made a superb ensemble cast and it was an absolute pleasure for me to revisit this play - one I had not seen on stage for about 40 years!
Pattison managed to elicit the best from his cast and the interpolation between serious and comedic was superbly placed. (as indeed were the period periodicals!)
Reviewer - Alastair Zyggu
On - 9.7.26
No comments:
Post a Comment