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Review by Paul Nelson
HAVING
regularly attended the theatre with an old friend, at least once a week, I
cannot remember a time when we were both so in complete accord over a play
as we were over Auntie and Me at Wyndham's Theatre.
The play's construction is unlike any either of us has seen in the heart of
London. For good or bad it runs like a silent film, short unspoken scenes,
sometimes one line like a subtitle, and then a fade or blackout.
The sense of unreality is also conveyed by the characters, Kemp and Grace.
He babbles on, constantly putting his foot into matters best left unsaid,
she for the most part taciturn.
This mosaic quality of the play, and quality it decidedly is, eventually builds
up through immensely funny comedy moments, into a very moving portrayal of
a relationship neither character expected. The audience certainly wasn't expecting
it.
Kemp takes a few days off from his job at the bank in order to look after
the details of the expected funeral of his aunt and only remaining relative.
Unfortunately, the old lady won't die and the few days stretch into weeks
and finally to well over a year.
Whiling away the time, staring out of the window to make comments about the
kids in the street, the nosey lady in the window opposite and meanwhile cooking
Grace's meals and generally looking after her, the boredom of nothing happening
begins to get to him.
He therefore begins to devise methods to hasten her end. He almost succeeds
with poison, but bottles out of it at the last minute, suffocating her with
a pillow, strangling her with the washing line, and, best of all, by inventing
a contraption which she can operate herself. Mounted on a supermarket trolley
is a Heath Robinson device. She can choose to bash out her brains with a lever,
or electrocute herself at the flick of a switch.
My companion and I, along with the rest of the audience, beheld all these
methods with unholy delight, accompanying each new wheeze with hoots of surprising
and spontaneous laughter.
The laughter was surprising in that the play, by nature of its disjointed
scenes, never manages to flow along. Each scene holds the attention and entertains,
but the whole seems not to gel into what can best be described as a really
satisfying evening at the theatre.
Kemp is played with a retiring charm by Alan Davies. Better known as a stand-up
comedian than as an actor, he acquits himself very well indeed. He has a natural
timing (I say natural, it may have taken years to perfect but it appears to
be casual) and an almost sheepish way of ingratiating himself into the favour
of the audience. He controls his audience's laughter with a style not often
seen.
Grace, on the other hand, with hardly a line during the first hour, indeed
a year has passed before she utters and then it is "Merry Christmas",
as played by the incomparable Margaret Tyzack wins the day. She is perfect.
Resigned to her fate, used to carers, knitting a multi-coloured sweater and
endlessly eating butterscotch puddings, she watches Kemp with a mixture of
bewilderment and interest.
The denouement of the final twist in the plot is so startling and funny that
the laughter must surely have been heard above the traffic outside the theatre.
Such a crack of long and loud laughter is rare these days. It stopped the
play, paralysed the audience and I believe surprised the cast.
Certainly at the curtain call they both wore a mixed expression of disbelief
at their reception and genuine delight at the effect they had created in the
theatre.
The play is also graced with an excellent angled setting (Hayden Griffin)
and is magically and frenetically lit (Andy Phillips).
It is an all too short evening, but what a memorable one with regard to performances.
Don't be one to hear about it, be one to cheer about it.
Auntie & Me by Morris Panych, Directed by Anna Mackmin, Designed by
Hayden Griffin, Lighting by Andy Phillips, Sound by Paul Arditti presented
by Karl Sydow, David Johnson (for Massive Stage and Screen Ltd) and Matthew
Gale at Wyndham's Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London WC2. Tickets 020 7369
1736
