Was He Anyone? is 80 minutes of sharp satire on celebrity, bureaucracy and the caring industries in one act from a cast of 9 (6F, 3M)

The unseen husband of Mrs Whitbrace (Nicola Sanderson) is drowning in the Mediterranean - a bookmaker's runner with a history of jumping off ships. She comes to caring organisation National Help You Out Year Week Campaign for assistance. Committee members offer hypothetical help conditional on a number of procedures being followed. They mix the sound of sympathy with criticism, and the offer of moral improvement within whatever help can be achieved. Passengers on cruise ship SS Bay of Naples gaze languidly at Mr Whitbrace drowning, and shut the porthole to drown out his calls for help - 'He's only trying to draw attention to himself'. A woman collects for charity and wonders whether to collect off the drowning man. Mrs Whitbrace rises from obscurity to celebrity, as the Prime Minister and Archbishop of Cantebury become involved. The charity arranges for a grand piano to be shipped out to Mr Whitbrace for his improvement while awaiting rescue, and he's soon sufficiently competent to play concertos with a full orchestra. The founder of National Help You Out Year Week Campaign who has previously prayed for the whole of China almost becomes involved in praying for the nearly-deceased, but as a year in the sea approaches, the fate of unseen Mr Whitbrace approaches an inevitable climax.

The play was written in 1972, a surprise, because it feels fresh and exactly tailored to the present. (Presumably) well-intentioned bodies - the Arts Council perhaps - padded out with non-entities as they achieve nothing and spew rubbish from their mouths - are ruthlessly parodied by the very funny, very elegant lines given to the characters by writer NF Simpson (b 1919). Targets successfully shot include the broadcast media, church ministers, religious organisations, politicians, and the essential selfishness of pretty much everyone.

Hannah Boyde is witheringly sharp as committee member Miss Rugg and funny as the Flag Seller. Jan Goodman excels as a committee member and as caring organisation founder Mrs Treplatchely. Peter Henderson gives strong performances in the committee and as Archbishop and Cabinet Minister. Craig Hendry gives a string of fine performances including committee member, Senior Civil Servant, and an amusing comic turn as the disgruntled Piano Engineer. Elinor Keber is a very entertaining Reporter and Miss Linthropp. Joanne Hildon puts elegant presence into characters including Miss Stewart, Mrs Crabbe-Harmsworth and Mrs Carthage.

It's an exceptionally strong cast of highly talented actors, which gives the robust and tautly-written script its best possible outing, and almost unfair to single out three in particular. Joshua Hemmings gives several eloquent performances including the flirtatious Ship Steward, Junior Civil Servant, and TV Interviewer. He has a strong presence and fine voice which give exceptional depth to his characterisations. Rebecca Ramsden gives superb delivery to a number of people who weave through the story - including Miss Hughes, Miss Havergal, News Reporter, Receptionist Nun. She also brings a strong presence, with eloquent delivery and elegant movement. Nicola Sanderson is outstanding as Mrs Whitbrace. It's a peculiar part, popping in and out through most of the play, and the only character to have much of a development as the story progresses. Nicola Sanderson shows Mrs Whitbrace in a wide and believeable range of moods - very skilful acting as the character is, like all the others, not quite real - and creates a funny, but also a strangely (because, again, the character is a kind of cartoon) moving characterisation.

A real star of the play is the extremely clever set - designed by Rosemary Flegg, constructed by Dan Richards - with moveable components making projection screens, reception desks, TV studios, committee rooms and a gorgeous set piece of the cruise ship, complete with ship's rail and Mediterranean Ocean. Another is the brisk, sensitive and authoritative direction, by Elgiva Field. Lighting design (by Richard Howell), and sound design (by Adrienne Quartly) give a convincing feel to the show's very large number of quick-changing scenes, helping quickly to establish location and feel.

This company's presentation of Was He Anyone? comes across as a very disturbing play, very amusing, very fresh. It glistens.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Hannah Boyde - Flag Seller, Miss Rugg, Trainee. Jan Goodman - Sybil, Mrs Clacton, Mrs Treplatchely, Mrs Dubarge. Joshua Hemmings - Ship Steward, Junior Civil Servant, Putney, TV Interviewer. Peter Henderson - Mr Williams, Clarence, Mr Burbage, Archbishop, Cabinet Minister. Craig Hendry - Mr Vernon, Senior Civil Servant, Baverstock, Mr Clapton, Piano Engineer. Joanne Hildon - Miss Stewart, Mrs Crabbe-Harmsworth, Mrs Carthage, Mrs Blithehampton. Elinor Keber - Girl Reporter, Miss Linthropp. Rebecca Ramsden - Miss Hughes, Miss Havergal, News Reporter, Receptionist Nun. Nicola Sanderson - Mrs Whitbrace. Piano played by - Jeff Brady.

Company Credits: Writer - NF Simpson (b 1919). Director - Elgiva Field. Set & Costume Designer - Rosemary Flegg. Lighting Designer - Richard Howell (www.richardhowell.co.uk/). Sound Designer - Adrienne Quartly (www.adriennequartly.com). Stage Manager - Georgie Bottomley. Technical Assistant - David Salter. Set Construction - Dan Richards. Press & PR - Flavia Fraser-Cannon. Producer - not credited. Company - not credited. www.obliquehouse.org.uk. Thanks to: Andrew Grocock (www.impressprint.net). David Jubb, Emma Power, Andrew Bishop, Jeff Brady, Liz Moreton, BAC. Peter Higgin, Punchdrunk. James Field. David Roots. Barry Burke. Jane McPherson. Francesca Walford. Ian Whitaker. Sasha Reegan, Union Theatre.

END

John Park

reviewed Thursday 16 November 07 / Union Theatre

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008