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Cat's-Paw
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King's Head Theatre, 115 Upper St, London, N1 1QN
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Rating:
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- This smart, gripping play couldn’t seem more apposite for our times, so it’s something of a surprise to realise that it was first written in 1984 and updated in 1996. Set in a dystopian world where natural resources are at a premium, the play’s main focus is on a fundamentalist eco-warrior, Victor, who’s happier to spill the blood of
those he loves than tolerate contaminated water.
It’s clear early on that this production should not be buried in an afternoon slot at the King’s Head, even
if the intimacy of the venue perfectly suits the claustrophobia of the hostage scenario it depicts. As the audience enters, a man is seated on a crate – a black bag over his head – while in the background a relentless soundtrack of 24-hour US news programmes ponders what his fate might be.
In the hands of a lesser writer, a play that satirises the links between terrorism and media manipulation could seem a little hackneyed: but William Mastrosimone’s script is never less than rigorously intelligent and scalpel sharp. The man who wrote the script of ‘Into The West’ for Steven Spielberg has the not insignificant talent of refusing to give away more than he needs to in each carefully calculated sentence – which means that the audience is kept guessing in the most positive sense all the way through the action.
On a set stacked with the paraphernalia of home-made terrorism, we watch as a kidnapped female TV journalist negotiates both to assert her rights and to pull off the hottest story of the hour. Among a strong cast,
Kosha Engler is a dynamic, credible news hack, while Noah Lee Margetts – as Victor, the eco-warrior – manages
to sustain menace while simultaneously exploiting the dark comedy of an activist who will sacrifice anything to achieve his ends.
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Details
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King's Head Theatre, 115 Upper St, London, N1 1QN
- 0870 890 0149
- Category: Off-West End
- Times: Mon-Fri 3pm, Sat & Sun 12pm
- Price: £12.50, concs £10, previews £10
- Tube: Angel
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1 comment
I just saw this play today and it was totally gripping. It is primarily a thrilling drama, with the issues of environmental activism, terrorism, and abduction as vehicles for that drama. The show lasts about 90 minutes with no interval and I was on the edge of my seat for nearly the whole time. What tension! All four actors were fantastic and totally convincing in their roles. One of the best plays I've seen this year.