Reviews of The Blue Room

by Site Admin on Friday, May 2, 2008

Newspapers, Reviews, STAC productions

Both the Worcester News and the Worcester Standard have reviewed The Blue Room this week.

John Philpott writing in the former, appears to understand the themes, has his ideas about “the essential truth” of the play, and is congratulatory over Chris Jaeger’s “masterly brushstrokes” as director. But it would all be for nothing “without the right materials, and his [Jaeger's] artist’s palette must surely overflow with the talents of Emily Portsmouth and Bob Churchill”.

Catherine Phillips writing in the latter, however, is less effusive. She appreciates the “convincing” changes between different roles, but her dislike of the play itself and her opinions of the morals displayed by the characters appear to be a hang-up. She also discusses the amount of sex at the Swan (is it really so much, or does it just appear that way if sex is particularly salient to someone as they flick through the programming brochure?)

The text of both reviews follows below.

From the Worcester News:

The essential truth is men are hopelessly inadequate idiots
By John Phillpott [Friday 2nd May]

IT would be easy to jump to conclusions as scene one unfolds - street girl and cab driver, grubby exploitative sex and nothing more.

The next two settings appear to reinforce the victim theme, loveless liaisons that depress rather than titillate.

David Hare’s creation was forged in the white-hot sexual heat of earlier works, Arthur Schnitzler’s Reigen and La Ronde, a 1950s cult film classic. Each incarnation sends out the fashionable messages of the day, whether Marxist orthodoxy or feminist rant.

Yet director Chris Jaeger is possibly alone in recognising the essential truth of this piece - that all men are, on some fundamental level, hopelessly inadequate idiots. They stumble about like drunks, intoxicated on their own hormones.

But Jaeger’s masterly brush strokes would be as nothing without the right materials, and his artist’s palette must surely overflow with the talents of Emily Portsmouth and Bob Churchill. Despite a decidedly Edwardian demeanour, Ms Portsmouth effortlessly flits from uncouth hooker to posh married bint and from classy model to prima donna actress.

Meanwhile, Mr Churchill as the aristocrat and politician actually starts to sound like his namesake at times, with just a hint of Boris Johnson for good measure.

But what really hits home is all this laughable male vanity, delusion and pure stupidity laid bare - literally on occasion - for all to see.

It is not always a pretty picture, yet the so-called weaker sex somehow always manages to rise above it all.

The Blue Room is a bitter-sweet sideways glance at the human condition, neatly held together by some cool jazz sounds. It runs until Saturday and is well worth a visit.

And the Worcester Standard:

Blue Room shows sex in cold light
Catherine Phillips
02 May 2008

The Blue Room
Swan Theatre
Until Saturday, May 3

There must be something in the water down at The Swan Theatre.

Recently, their programme has featured Get Naked - The Boys are Back in Town!, a musical involving men dancing and singing in the nude, the sex and swear-word-filled Closer, and now David Hare’s The Blue Room.

Ten scenes featuring a circular story of sexual situations, many of which show a cold, callous desire for the action rather than any true feelings of love and devotion.

Two actors play all the parts: Emily Portsmouth and Bob Churchill, each with five characters from various backgrounds all linked by their last bleak sexual encounter.

The diversity of characters, and in particular their accents, was seemingly handled better by Churchill than Portsmouth who initially struggled with a cockney accent as The Girl and an Eastern European accent as The Au Pair.

However, when playing the Married Woman who embarks on a tryst with The Student before returning to her husband, The Politician, Portsmouth created the strongest character on the stage.

She also dealt with her numerous nude scenes with no embarrassment and the pair were convincing in their different roles.

The bare set leant itself well to the audience’s leap in imagination for the different locations while the sometimes lengthy costume and set changes were punctuated by a delightful live jazz band.

Hidden behind a length of material, I found myself looking forward to the musicians’ return.

However, the play itself presents a very cold view of sexual relationships and, perhaps because there is so much nudity and swearing, lacked any real warmth.

Maybe I am just too much of a romantic but I would have liked to have seen some genuine affection coupled with the betrayal and lust as they do not have to be mutually exclusive.

On the way out I was handed a leaflet for another production at the Swan Theatre, The Naked Truth, featuring pole dancing.

There is definitely something in the water.

The Blue Room starts at 7.30pm and tickets are available by calling 01905 611427.

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