THEATRE 
REVIEWS
Hapgood
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Leeds
ENGLAND
A confusion of spooks
Have you ever wondered what our security services are up to, well this play could convince you that they do not know either. Tom Stoppard's play makes good theatre and will keep your mind working right up until you leave your seat and make your way home. The next day it will keep coming back into your thoughts enough for you to want to discuss what you think you saw. Well, if that introduction does not confuse you then Hapgood certainly will. Who is Hapgood? you will ask, well, she is mother, mother to her son and to her organisation members, but like all mothers she has a problem and that is what this play is all about.
The set is spot on, just enough props to give the atmosphere and this was designed by Colin Richmond. He is ablely supported by Tim Mitchell who supplies some superb lighting effects. Then there is the music which filters through to the audience to convey the right atmosphere, and this is written by Catherine Jayes. Three essential ingredients of this finely observed play. This play is written by someone who has seen, experienced and updated what he thinks the security services are up to and how they behave. All this was given to Rachel Kavanaugh the director who put a subtle touch to it and brought an intriguing play to life.
Josie Lawrence and Christopher Ettridge see another side
The scenes are ordinary, but evocative of what is required and they all come to life with the help of this superb cast of actors who have a feeling for the characters that they play. We have Hapgood, played by Josie Lawrence, and her son Joe, whose name also means something else, and, depending on what night you have the luck to see this play, is played by George Snaith or Jonathan Gilworth. Then take the man in charge, or he appears to be in charge, Blair, now there is a name to play with, played by Christopher Ettridge. He has his workers, Maggs, (Ross Armstrong), Ridley (David Birrell), Wates (Steve Toussaint) and the new boy Merryweather (Paul Westwood). Add the Russian (Peter F Gardiner) and Kerner (John Hodgkinson) stir well and they all interact and mix to give a storyline that you will have to concentrate on. You will have to go to see this complex play if you want the answer to the plot. BA ©
“Hapgood” is in Leeds on the 1st May until the 24th May, 2008. Council car parking charge was £1 from 5.30pm until 10pm, unless it is suspended. This is now a No Smoking theatre.
Is there an Air Conditioning certificate prominently displayed in your theatre foyer stating the date of manufacture of the appliance and when the system was last inspected and serviced - if not, complain to the theatre management.
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