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A CurtainUp 
London Review
London ReviewThe Observer
| To start with, they are all good men but when they have the army and the police in their pocket, you'll see . . . — Bar Owner's wife Waletta
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Anna Chancellor as Fiona Russell and Chuk Iwuji as Daniel Okere as John (Photo: Nobby Clark) |
From the beginning the team know that they will not have a perfect election but they hope for one which is "free and fair enough" but it is apparent that the existing President is going to win. When the first round of voting is close enough to necessitate a second round between the two main candidates, Russell, with her African translator David Okeke (Chuk Iwuji), intervenes to register more voters from the underrepresented rural areas. The effect of this democratization is that these extra votes will not be for the incumbent president.
It is true that the President's men are beating up those who are seen to be helping the opposition or worse cutting off parts of their anatomy but somehow what Russell is doing also seems to be wrong, her liberal actions are interfering and affecting the result, albeit with the best of intentions. What is incredible is how unaware she is of the suspect morality of her actions. Matt Charman has given us a broad palette of characters from those running rural polling stations to the openly antagonistic members of the "in the President's pocket" Electoral Committee to a bar keeper and waitress as well as the washed out British diplomat, Saunders (James Fleet) and the Norwegian newly appointed, out of his depth, chief of the observation team (Peter Forbes). There is the BBC television news reporter Declan (Lloyd Hutchinson) looking for a story but ending up speaking in cliché soundbites.
Rolling blinds descend to screen the set and to vary the scene with projected landscapes or electric fans to contribute to the brown dusty colours and torpor of Africa. Matt Charman has obviously researched his play well. One scene sees the observation team horse trading as they decide what to put in and what to leave out of their report. What price transparency? Then there is the tension as each day after the second result there is the refusal of the President to concede victory to the Opposition and a meeting between Russell and the Head of the Military General Okule (one of many rich performances from Cyril Nri).
It is an interesting political play which merits and stimulates debate with some very fine performances. Richard Eyre keeps the second half moving at a faster pace than the first but don't leave at the interval because you will miss a satisfying denouement much of which has been set up in the first half.
| The Observer
Written by Matt Charman Directed by Richard Eyre Starring: Anna Chancellor, James Fleet, Chuk Iwuji With: Peter Forbes, Leo Bill, Isabel Pollen, Cyril Nri, Aicha Kossoko, Louis Mahoney, Joy Richardson, Daon Broni Design: Rob Howell Lighting: Neil Austin Sound: Rich Walsh Music: Richard Hartley Projection Design: Jon Driscoll Running time: Two hours 30 minutes with an interval Box Office: 020 7420 3000 Booking to 8th July 2009 Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge based on 21st May 2009 at the Cottesloe, National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 (Rail/Tube: Waterloo) |
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