[title]
Set against the background of Nazi war crime trials in the ’80s, Susannah Finzi’s debut play ‘Blind Eye’ takes on a big topic but doesn’t quite deliver.
The story follows human rights lawyer Elizabeth (Claire Louise Amias) as she tries to bring Otto (Gil Sutherland) to justice with the help of his peace negotiator son (Anthony Green). It’s an interesting concept, with some weighty themes of integrity, fatherhood and loyalty. But the narrative is overcomplicated by an abundance of sub-plots and superfluous characters, resulting in a confusing first half and a lack of depth.
There are some visual merits. Mike Lees’s set is good, clipboards holding photographs of wanted criminals form an effective backdrop. And there’s an agreeable surrealness: in the opening scene the cast move around in synchronisation on office wheelie chairs to perfectly timed lighting and a soundtrack of news reports.
And when the plot becomes clearer during the second half, the acting shines through – it’s good despite some dodgy German-cum-Irish accents and Sutherland’s caricatured Nazi veteran. But even with the talented cast, Finzi’s script could do with some simplification. With so many ideas, relationships and moral questions crammed in, we can’t help but be distracted from the very serious issue in front of us.