Press by Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller at Jack Studio Theatre 17 June - 5 July
'lots here that is good' ★★★ 1/2
I've written before about my love for my local pub theatre, the Jack Studio in Brockley, and on the hottest day of the year I might have been inclined to add an extra star for the air conditioned room in which Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller's 'Press' plays out. Clearly I'm not that kind of reviewer but the 50 minute show is undoubtedly enhanced by my feeling cool and comfortable - I could have happily sat in there all evening......
But, we are not reviewing conditions we are reviewing the latest from Brimmer-Beller and Black Bat Productions, whose work I've seen before and thus there were high hopes for this re-boot of his play Press which has had theatrical revisions as well as having been filmed as a monologue. From the outset, let's be clear that Brimmer-Beller is to be lauded for continuing to fight the good fight for high quality, interesting and relevant theatre on a small scale. He is a real talent and I look forward to what's next but, ultimately, Press was perhaps slightly disappointing.
On the eve of the important industry Goldie Awards, writer-director David Fring (Brimmer-Beller) is being interviewed to talk about his new film Catch Me Some Freedom which, in a seemingly smart piece of PR / marketing (or at least, 'unconventional') has yet to be seen by the public but has 'buzz' and is expected to receive multiple nominations. The film itself tells the story of a group of black slaves in the American deep south who escape their plantation and find themselves taken in by a white man who formerly oversaw the very same plantation. The wunderkind film maker Joe George is 'off grid' and thus Fring is on PR duties and is grilled by the off stage interviewer and, gradually, we see him fidget, trip over his words, talk un-necessarily about Hitler and despite emitting moments of confidence he is out of his depth. This is heightened when the interviewer reveals that the overseer was, in real life, an African-American; remarkably (and completely implausibly) this is news to Fring.....
Cut to a second longer scene where Fring is in panicked conversation with his partner in crime Kate Smalls (an under-written role played nicely enough by Rosie Hart) as they discuss how to minimise the negative PR around this failure with the Goldie Award nominations being announced at any moment. The pair go round in circles seeking to maybe blame the film maker, turn the whole thing into a positive or to just simply ignore it - all whilst keeping an eye on social media reaction which is in meltdown ('little digital pitchforks'). The piece builds to a neat and perhaps surprising denouement which elicited intakes of breathe from many audience members on the night I went - but a bit of an eye-roll from me.....
There's lots here that is good - Brimmer-Beller's opening interview section is very much the best piece and sets things up really nicely. When he is joined by Hart their interactions are overly scripted and directed - you know that they are talking to us the audience rather than to one another. There are some smart lines - although I didn't laugh as much as I should have - but the Kate Smalls role just doesn't quite feel real - or right for the play (not a reflection on Hart but more on being the 'wrong' character in the wrong place). This all means that the show still drags despite its short running time and the ending is contrived and, for me, unbelievable - what we've seen of David Fring gives zero indication of what happens (and what he does) to tie things up.
Don't get me wrong - it's a good show and well worth your time, it's just not quite as good as it might have been. As star, writer and director perhaps Brimmer-Beller could have focussed on one or two of these only (not easy on small budgets I know). I could absolutely see the piece solely as a monologue / interview or, conversely, there is a wider and longer play in here with a bigger cast.
So, a diverting enough show and - with no extra star for the air-con - not so much 'could do better' but, in Brimmer-Beller's talented hands, 'will do better'.
Written and directed by Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller
Produced by Niamh Jones
Presented by Black Bat Productions
Cast:
David: Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller
Kate: Rosie Hart
Photo credit: Niamh Jones.
