Noel Coward Theatre, London
*****
If Director Michael Grandage maintains this standard
for his season of five plays at the Noel Coward theatre he will achieve
something astonishing, for the moment though, this is an excellent start. With Grandage at the helm Privates on Parade, Peter Nichols’ 1977 music comedy transcends its
time of writing and becomes startlingly current. The production asks us to
consider what happens when the British leave a war zone, what too much luxury leads
to, and just what is the “ordinary” England that is worth fighting for?
It is relevant, exciting and feels as though it could have been written
yesterday.
Photo: Johan Parsson |
Beginning with the arrival of new recruit Private
Steven Flowers (played with brilliant wide-eyed innocence by Joseph Timms), Privates on Parade tells the story of
the fictional ‘Song and Dance Unit South East Asia’ (SADUSEA): a unit stationed
in Singapore and Malaysia in the late 1940’s, tasked with raising troop moral through
the means of a touring cabaret. With song, dance, magic and comedy and under
the leadership of a very unlikely soldier, Acting Captain Terri Dennis (Simon
Russell Beale), SADUSEA presents a microcosm of Englishness. Uprooted and
placed in a foreign land Privates on
Parade creates the perfect stage on which to excavate fundamental issues
surrounding race, sexuality, nation and the ways in which Brits relate to the
world around them both historically and today.
Nichols reminds us “this isn’t a history class, this
is theatre.” The narrative is fluid, and playful; the lives of the soldiers
turn to song and dance before seamlessly becoming part of an evenings cabaret
show. This use of theatrical convention alongside the shows self conscious
brain forces the audience to engage not merely with a story on a stage, but
crucially with the bigger questions. Perhaps the biggest success is the faith
shown by Grandage in the intelligence of his audience: points are never pushed,
links to current affairs not heavy handedly highlighted, simply placed on a
stage to explore.
That is not to say that the evening is purely a play
of ideas lacking drama and humanity; the staging and acting is never less than
excellent. A brilliantly strong ensemble cast paired with Christopher Oram (Set
& Costume), Paul Constable (Lighting), Nick Lidster and Terry Jardine’s
(Sound) intelligent and immersive design elements allow the philosophy of the
piece to flourish, whilst never losing sight of the fact that theatre works
when the audience care for the people on the stage. Denis King’s musical
numbers choreographed with humor and vigor by Ben Wright also contain far more
excitement and invention in their staging than many big budget West End shows
whilst still all contributing to the overarching movement of the piece. Simon
Russell Beale takes delight in every shared he has with an audience that sits
in the palm of his hand from his very first entrance, but to single out one
person really is to undermine just what a group success this is.
Photo: Johan Parsson |
At times hilarious and heart warming, at others
tragic, this thoughtful and joyous production could not have come at a better
time. A play with Britain and humanity is at its heart and one lingering
question: “who won the war?” A question to which, it would seem with the play’s
final moments, Grandage may have an answer.
This production runs until 2 March 2013.
For more information: http://www.michaelgrandagecompany.com/whats-on/#privates-on-parade_page0
@MichaelGrandage #PrivatesOnParade
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