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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
The Racket
Verdict: War on Iraq
The Racket is a 2-act play about the state of the world, and the reality of war. It runs at 1 hour 45 minutes (including 15 minute interval).
It is written and performed by Richard Walker, and follows an emotional journey towards the truth taken by two people related by misfortune.
Simon Brook (Richard Walker) tries to explain his Iraq experience on dictaphone, to send to his teenage son in England. He starts telling the tale of the story of the distinguished real-life American marine Major-General Smedley Darlington Butler (1881-1940), who wrote the book War Is A Racket from which the play borrows its title. Simon Brook reveals his love for a photo-journalist, and his admiration for her courage, ambition - and idealism in telling the truth about what is happening. The love story sours with thoughts of infidelity, and guilt at what happens to her.
Kenny Yates (Richard Walker) is a Northerner inspired by his daughter's quest to save the world from greed and the starvation of the poor. He's happy that his son, a British soldier, and his daughter, an ambition photo-journalist, are going to Iraq to make a difference. When they are killed, it turns to anger, changing his view of the American and British governments. He becomes more even more determined when tragedy visits again.
Richard George's sound design effectively evokes the war-zone of Iraq - from bombing to the talk of people in the street.
Richard Walker's script is carefully constructed. Directors Anna Barry and Andrew Neil create the feeling, from what is a one-man play, that there are other live characters. The presence of the idealistic journalist, brimming with world's injustice, is almost tangible.
Cast Credits: Richard Walker - Simon Brook, Kenny Yates.
Company Credits: Writer - Richard Walker. Directors (alpha order) - Anna Barry, Andrew Neil. Sound Design - Richard George. Producers (alpha order) - Anna Barry, Andrew Neil, Richard Walker.
END
(c) Amine Yahia Cherif
reviewed Monday 29 May 06 / Old Red Lion
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
