Martin Crimp’s 2008 work The City is on at the Bakehouse under the direction of our new STC artistic director, Geordie Brookman (here for his nowyesnow company.)
The opening scene brings partners Clair (Lizzy Falkland) and Chris (Chris Pitman) together discussing their day. One was perplexed by the event of his security card not swiping properly at work, the other about being witness to a child being taken away from her father at the railway station.
From that moderately understandable entre things never quite seem so plain. Is The City about the vicissitudes of life, the dissolving pursuit of community in a big place, the pursuit of career when helping others may be a better goal or the neuroses we all conjure to make our days interesting? You form your own opinion and enjoy the debate with others but one can be assured that the production coming at you is first rate.
For starters, the Bakehouse stage has never seemed so large thanks to Victoria Lamb’s minimalist decor of white side panels and glass rear ones with lighting that can not only take us into intimate places but project the simultaneous feel of the modern office and the rear house extension.
The work of Falkland and Pitman is spot on (as you would expect from these talented and experienced actors) weaving inter personal conflict with the humour of the repetition dialogue, seeming both attached and detached from each other and the world around them, albeit in a big city.
For a further taste of what we can look forward to at The Playhouse from Geordie Brookman (he directed last year’s Speaking In Tongues), this captivating 80 minutes is worth the effort.
Kryztoff Rating 3.5K
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