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Review by Emma Whitelaw
AS THE unsuspecting, 11-year-old John plays with his toy tanks
and soldiers he is oblivious to the harsh life lessons he is destined
to discover.
Written by David Eldridge, M.A.D. is a family drama set in 1984.
At the height of the Cold War, M.A.D. stood for
Mutually Assured Destruction.
To the young John, it meant Mum and Dad. Unaware of the cold
war brewing within his own home, he acts out the strategies of
the Warsaw Pact and Nato with his plastic toys.
His Del-Boy-esque father, Kelly, played by the talented Lee Ross,
is a market trader struggling to make a crust. Jo McInnes is excellent
as his bored and frustrated wife, Alice. Together they form a
close knit family unit; things are tough – but they get by.
That is, until friend of the family, Luigi, takes advantage of
the situation and betrays Kelly by sleeping with his wife.
The emotional blackmail and paranoia they’ve witnessed
in the news is now happening right in front of them. They have
become victims of their own cold war.
Gerald Lepkowski is perfect for the role of Luigi. He is a man
of very few words, which at times was quite comical. However,
when he does speak, it is poignant and touches the heart of the
war obsessed child.
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He tells John that it’s the
nuclear bombs that keep the peace. He explains that Russia and
America are doing the world a favour by threatening one another.
These comments stay with John his whole life; he likens it to
the silence that fell upon their home after the affair was revealed.
The set and sound design were both excellent. With Betamax videos
and an 80s soundtrack, it really felt as though you had stepped
back in time.
In the cosy setting of the Bush Theatre, the
audience were also privy to a fly-on-the-wall view of the family’s
lounge room, in Romford.
Thirteen-year-old Lewis Chase was precious as the young John.
He is immensely talented and plays the child caught in the crossfire
beautifully.
M.A.D. is Chase’s professional theatre debut, yet
he is no stranger to the acting profession having already appeared
on screen in Agent
Cody Banks II.
Throughout the play, Eldridge appeared to be making some relevant
socio-political commentary, but I feel it somehow became lost
within the drama; especially in the second act.
Set some 20 years later, an older John, played by Daniel Mays,
takes to the stage.
It is unfortunate, however, as although Mays is a brilliant actor,
I felt as though this was where the play lost its momentum.
Reminiscent of the melodramatic plots of Coronation Street, or
East Enders, it became easy to lose sight of what the playwright
was really trying to say.
Despite this turnaround, however, M.A.D. is a poignant
and compelling drama that explores issues of family and friendship
tenderly.
M.A.D. written by David Eldridge, directed by Hettie Macdonald.
Starring Lewis Chase, Jo McInnes, Lee Ross, Gerald Lepkowski and
Daniel Mays. Design by Jonathan Fensom, Lighting by Jason Taylor,
Sound by David Benke. 21st April to 22nd May at The Bush Theatre,
Shepherds Bush Green, London W12. Box Office 020 7610 4224.
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