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A CurtainUp 
London Review
London ReviewRemembrance Day
by Tim Newns
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We can't actually change anything: set fire to yourself, start shooting people . . .Demonstrate. It won't change anything at all! When you understand that, you'll be able to see everything more clearly. — Boris
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Sam Kelly as Paulis and Ewan Hooper as Valdis (Photo: Tristram Kenton) |
In Scherbak's play we are in Latvia and are witness to a breakdown of a family that is at the heart of the yearly protests between Latvian Veterans of the Third Reich and the Red Army Parade. We see both worlds, often entwined, presented to us as two separate groups of residents in an apartment block reminiscent of a Soviet time. In one flat we have Anya (Ruby Bentall), a young Russian and aspiring political activist, who has been recruited for her extremist patriotism to the vexation of her father, Sasha (Michael Nardone). Their relationship receives a fatal blow as her father is portrayed in the media as a sympathiser to a peaceful solution and, to some, of the opposing party too. Next door Valdis (Ewan Hooper) and Paulis (Sam Kelly), two old Latvian Veterans debate on the truth and conjure up the past, unaware that they will soon rely all too heavily on their Russian neighbours.
The conflict between the two parties is something that is overtly played within the production. Right through we are constantly aware of how their worlds are literally on top of each other. Scenes often interplay with each other and while we may be seeing a family domestic on one side between Anya and her father, we are also treated to some very private moments on stage of the other characters. One set plays the role of two main locations and by clever use of connecting doors the switch between the two is seamless.
The acting across the board is good, however in the beginning it often feels like no one is really listening to each other, whether that be an emphasis on the frustration of the times we are unsure, but many moments particularly between the Russian family seemed rather stilted and incongruous. Ewan Hooper and Sam Kelly instil in the production history, depth and character with their portrayals of two age old Latvian Soldiers. Michael Longhurst directs with a rather courageous and original concept. The most intriguing part of the production is his ability to simultaneously interact the different scenes together, giving us a clear painting of both sides of Scherbak's argument.
With a situation and a place that not many of the audience will know a huge amount about, Scherbak's play may not appeal to the masses but it certainly could be an interesting comparison to problems much closer to home.
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| Remembrance Day
Directed by Michael Longhurst Written by Aleksey Scherbak Translated by Rory Mullarkey With: Luke Norris, Ruby Bentall, Michael Nardone, Iwan Rheon, Michelle Fairley, Struan Rodger, Ewan Hooper, Sam Kelly and Nick Court Design: Tom Scutt Lighting: David Holmes Sound: Ben and Max Ringham Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes. No interval. Box Office: 020 7565 5000 Booking to 16th April 2011 Reviewed by Tim Newns based on 23rd March 2011 performance at the Royal Court, Sloane Square, London SW1W 8AS. (Tube: Sloane Square) |
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