Heron
Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
DAVID HERON'S 4Play, currently running at the Pantry Playhouse in New Kingston, is an entertaining production. The name gives a very good clue as to what one can find inside, as it surrounds issues of sex, intimacy and betrayal. The play opened last month.
Heron has stuck to his ideal that a good director and cast will ensure a successful production and once again has come up with a good combination. Artfully directed by Douglas Prout (who has just finished his own engaging stint on the stage in Remember Me?), 4Play features Karen Harriott (Stephanie Johnson), Karl Williams (Charles Johnson), Maylynne Walton (Chloe Leslie), Orville Hall (Rick Leslie), and Munair Zacca (Pete Samuels).
The production takes place over several weeks when two couples encounter each other in Port Antonio. The Johnsons are your typical anal retentive couple as typified by their careers (an actuary and a librarian), while the Leslies are their artistic and hedonistic counterparts. Initially drawn in by the Leslies' zest for life, the Johnsons seem to have got in for more than they bargain for when they agree to switch partners with the other couple.
The play chugs along as an enjoyable dramatic comedy. However, toward the end it suddenly veers off-course and becomes a suspense thriller. With this, Heron bails on the complex relationship drama that was promised at the beginning of the play and instead runs for sensationalism.
When he does so the fun of the production is not dampened, but its calibre is hampered. The problem is not the sensationalism in and of itself but the twists and turns of the plot are unoriginal, seemingly a cross between Sleeping with the Enemy and Return to Eden.
Additionally, it is in this segment that the structural weakness of the production pushes its head through. The resolution of the plot depends too heavily on the characters giving long speeches explaining what they did, why they did it and how they did it. These monologues speak to the production's structural weaknesses, as it highlights that some of the characters were not properly developed and that the plot was not organic enough.
Fortunately the dialogue remains witty and so even though extra-long speeches explaining all the motivations are now particularly hackneyed, the entertainment level never really wanes.
Though interestingly designed to create a lively tropical setting through bright colours and the illusion of space, the set is poorly constructed.
A large part of the production's success relies on the fact that it was beautifully directed and acted to bring out all the undercurrents and deeper layers of the characters which go well beyond words. Harriott delivers a performance worthy of her career and reputation, easily riding the divide between her comic and dramatic moments. Her partner, Williams, once again shows that he is an actor well on the rise. Interestingly, his character (Charles) lacks some complexity for such a central character.
Chloe, on the other hand, is interestingly drawn and Walton plays her well. Indeed, her performance is possibly the best she has delivered on stage. With the exception of Chloe's French accent (and the accents were generally slightly problematic), her performance was captivating. Both Hall and Zacca are sailing in very comfortable familiar waters and so giving a convincing performance is no hard task. Indeed, Zacca's character in last year's I'll Be Back Before Midnight was quite similar to this one.
One can generally count on Heron to present a play that will shake up the theatrical landscape, even ever so slightly, and deliver an entertaining production. Once again he delivers.
Problems aside, 4Play is a fun play to watch.
