Post by joem on Aug 8, 2016 11:06:17 GMT
As it says on the tin there are two plays by David Greig on at the Jermyn Street Theatre - "Kyoto" and "The Letter of Last Resort".
Not written as a pair there are some thematic similarities in that they both concern big decisions taken by governments and are plays of ideas.
Kyoto is ostensibly about man-made climate change but in fact deals with the possibility of an affair at conferences such as these, where the would-be lovers only see each other at long intervals and in similar settings. As a play of ideas though it is slight, the big theme is actually very much in the background and, although it is sometimes used effectively as in the scene where the couple exchange mock-erotic wordplay using technical jargon, the play is really about two people adrift on on the sea of life.
The Letter of Last Resort has more meat to it and a good set-up. A just appointed PM (looking rather like Ms May) is interrupted late at night by a man called John from "Arrangements" who explains to her she must write letters to the Trident submarine commanders giving them orders in case UK is wiped out by a nuclear attack. Some dark humour and nice banter. The only problem is the deeply flawed and simplistic arguments which hold less water than a leaky sieve.
I must say the set looked very good and was wonderfully converted from bedroom to PM's office very plausibly and efficiently during the interval.
Not written as a pair there are some thematic similarities in that they both concern big decisions taken by governments and are plays of ideas.
Kyoto is ostensibly about man-made climate change but in fact deals with the possibility of an affair at conferences such as these, where the would-be lovers only see each other at long intervals and in similar settings. As a play of ideas though it is slight, the big theme is actually very much in the background and, although it is sometimes used effectively as in the scene where the couple exchange mock-erotic wordplay using technical jargon, the play is really about two people adrift on on the sea of life.
The Letter of Last Resort has more meat to it and a good set-up. A just appointed PM (looking rather like Ms May) is interrupted late at night by a man called John from "Arrangements" who explains to her she must write letters to the Trident submarine commanders giving them orders in case UK is wiped out by a nuclear attack. Some dark humour and nice banter. The only problem is the deeply flawed and simplistic arguments which hold less water than a leaky sieve.
I must say the set looked very good and was wonderfully converted from bedroom to PM's office very plausibly and efficiently during the interval.
