My Zinc Bed by David Hare at the Ensmble

MY ZINC BED BY DAVID HARE ENSEMBLE THEATRE OCTOBER 2015 Under Mark Kilmurry’s excellent, assured direction the Ensemble have just opened the latest play in the season – David Hare’s My Zinc Bed. The direction is sensitive, with a light touch and the acting is superb with bravura performances from all three of the cast . Hare’s erudite beautifully scripted play (with some strong language)is at times cuttingly witty and at others searingly passionate and revealing. Structurally the play is basically a series of conversations The issues of the play include temptation, addiction, struggling with alcoholicism , self analysis and understanding , ,faith ( or the lack of it ) and love and marriage . Also, memory – observe how the play is in effect cyclical and at the end the first meeting is repeated , but slightly differently. (From another character’s point of view?) In this play, Paul Peplow , who acts as our narrator, is a poet and struggling ex-alcoholic currently working as a journalist . He is now on the straight and narrow, attending AA meetings, trying to be good. However one short unforgettable London summer threatens to destroy him. He is sent to meet and interview millionaire businessman Victor Quinn and is enticed into a new world that can be a very dangerous game. While he banters and verbally boxes with Victor, and flirts with his wife Elsa, the barriers of Paul’s self control and carefully established sobriety begin to fracture … can you let yourself go without losing control ? Feller’s clear, simple, rather minimalist set is basically a curved white cyclorama with a panel in front of part of it, a slightly raised platform and a single plastic chair. Higgin’s atmospheric lighting is tremendous, becoming everything from a red posh restaurant door and/or sunset to a hazy green view of a park and trees .The lighting also reflects at times the mood of the character to great effect. Our stubbled somewhat scruffy poet Paul, who acts as our narrator and has several sparkling asides and monologues, is delightfully, charmingly played by Sam O’Sullivan .He has a major problem – not just his alcoholicism but ‘ I can love you and drink. Or I can not love you and not drink. That is the choice’ as he blurts passionately to Elsa. The scenes between Paul and Elsa crackle with intensity. Danielle Carter as Elsa is stunning. She is head of a large charity organization and beautifully blonde and elegant. She seems strong , confident and captivating , a mix of alluring femme fatale and complexity – yet in reality is vulnerable , she hides a couple of secrets and anxiously bemoans the fact that she can’t give Victor children . As IT magnate millionaire businessman, ex communist Victor Quinn, Sean Taylor is charismatic and seductive .He is suave, polished and urbane with a hypnotic ,mellifluous voice. In the long opening scene he is almost Satanic in his almost hypnotic attempt to encourage Paul to drink. Does he know about Paul and Elsa? He manipulates both of them. Victor and Elsa’s marriage appears to be based at least partly on pity and a hungry need. A splendid production with glorious performances .Thoroughly recommended. Running time 90m mins no interval My Zinc Bed runs in rep at the Ensemble Theatre 10 Oct -22 Nov 2015 Director Mark Kilmurry Elsa Quinn – Danielle Carter Paul Peplow – Sam O’Sullivan Victor Quinn – Sean Taylor Designer Tobhiyah Stone Feller Lighting Nicholas Higgins Wardrobe Coordinator Alana Canceri