Cry Havoc

‘Cry Havoc’ is written and directed by Grant Watson. Produced by Graeme Watson, it is an Idea ex Machina production, in conjunction with the Blue Room. The play is being performed at The Blue Room Theatre, 53 James Street, Northbridge, until 7^th November. All shows 7.00 pm,
 

         As the US Republican President, James Freeman (Peter Nettleton) is addressing the people he comes to a grinding halt, folds away his papers and says ‘I am fed up with not giving the people what they need, we have failed you all’. The White House Chief of Staff, Marc Douglas (Peter Clark) almost has a fit, it is his job to create policies and advise the Party how to carry out their aims, and here is a loose cannon at the helm. Douglas calls in the Press Secretary, Hank (Michael Lamont – who got a spontaneous burst of applause for a particularly fine piece of acting) and his colleague, Director of Communications, Bronwyn Hopkins (Sonia Marcon) to try and draw up a speech to re-exert the Party’s authority.

       The Speaker of the House of Representatives – in the US is a extremely political post, not like our independent, neutral Speaker – Cassandra Ford (Mia Martin) has very powerful feelings on the subject; perhaps replace the President with the Vice President (Kingsley Judd). As all of the dirty tricks brigades are working, they are under the watchful eye of the Intelligence Analysts (Amy Welsh and Clinton Ward). How will the unwanted swing in party line be resolved?

Writer, Grant Watson, has produced an amazing script from what I thought would be a dry subject. With clever dialogue, he most convincingly shows the politicians woodenly, relating the same old insincere platitudes to the people, and then as soon as the cameras are turned off, treating their staff like dirt, whilst plotting the next devious step in their career. The script is as good as any found in TV or cinema.

There were many similarities to ‘Julius Caesar’, with backstabbing, a war in another country, parallels to Cassius convincing Brutus that Caesar has become too powerful and popular. A similar triumvirate is formed and Anthony’s equivalent cried for havoc. All beautifully woven into this storyline. Should there be any confusion, and I doubt if you will have any trouble, the programme has a very good glossary of the terms used.

The set is black, with the cast in grey or black – truly depicting some of the dangerous ‘Grey men’, similar to whom Princess Dianna referred.

At two hours long, with a break of 15 minutes, instead of the ennui of politics, the audience could not wait to get back into the theatre for the second half. With a superb cast, of well-known names from professional and community theatre, the quality of acting was outstanding.

This slick, disturbing and memorable play had the rare honour of the audience stamping feet and clapping enthusiastically, as they demanded a curtain call from the outstanding cast.