THEATRE REVIEWS

The lights come up on a stage of blue-grey tones. There is a train track, lined by leafless trees, four transparent chairs and luggage from a civil, colonial era. There is a couple, opposite one another; he with 'aristocratic fingernails and an air of mid-century elegance', she with well-dyed hair and a suit which gives her 'an air of mystery'. Time is passing, and yes, has passed.

The twilight years envelop the pair. As the silence is broken, lives are unpacked. Lives of others, not present, whose imprint has defined Paul Parsky (Peter Bowles) and Martha's (Siân Phillips) worlds. Worlds of flirtation, bitterness, intimacy and loss. Worlds in which cherished companions have died and children have constructed their own lives. As the couple journey towards Frankfurt, the question can only remain: what possible interaction could be appropriate for these two who have lived, loved, and are now alone?

The joy, and pain, of the play lies in the journey the audience takes along with the characters. It is revealed early on that Martha carries in her handbag the latest novel by Parsky, the stranger sitting opposite her. Suspense builds as it becomes apparent that she is not just a fan, but a dedicated lover of all that he represents. As he reflects on the position he has come to, and what lies ahead, he becomes intrigued by the lady's apparently cold visage. A tension ensues in which the characters weave sometimes closer to one another, sometimes further away, and gradually intertwine their lives. As the audience are taken through yet more of Martha's careful conversational planning and Parsky's self-indulgent, morose monologue, one starts to wonder whether the two will ever talk, or whether the journey will end in complete frustration. Gradually, one almost gives up hope that the two could ever connect and expose their joint fantasy of the unknown.

Eavesdropping the post-curtain critique revealed a schism of opinion about the play. For some there was an obvious resonance, a 'nostalgia for things that have never existed'. For others the suspense was quite literally unbearable. Amongst my own companions one fell asleep, another wanted to hasten proceedings by use of a shotgun and another was thoroughly engrossed. Amongst us all there was a clear acknowledgement of almost flawless acting, superb direction and engaging dialogue. Fans of Art, Yasmina Reza's international hit, will appreciate the musing, intelligent and cynical humour of The Unexpected Man. For those who found Art trying, even pretentious, for the same qualities, the earlier written The Unexpected Man is likely to be one step too far with a running time of 80 minutes and no interval.

If ever you have fallen in love with a writer, painter, philosopher, simply for what they contribute to the world; if you have ever felt the need to throw all sense to the wind and declare to a complete stranger that 'you would have any adventure' with them; then this is the play for you. If not, then there are other journeys to be had! © XT

“The Unexpected Man” is in Bath on the 23rd May until the 28th May, 2005 and continues their UK tour.