The Barons Court Theatre welcomes the world premiere of this new play dealing with the aftermath of war in the lives of everyday people. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on the show, to let us know if the piece gets to make the cut by a canvas.
It is not only the living who are killed in war... In a time where the world is, once again, at stake through the most heart-wrenching displays of dehumanization, one can’t help but thinking on all those little lives that perhaps have not been taken, but anyway destroyed by the greed and thirst for power from those who don’t even know about them. War takes a toll far beyond the battlefield. It tears families and friends apart. It breaks the harmony of any prosperous society. And it sucks away the dreams of those who had nothing else to rely on. So many stories are buried under the rocks of hatred. Stories which had nothing to do with the carnage that instigated them, but are anyhow part of their fabric. Anonymous yet personal. Individual, but universal. This is one of those stories.
Last week, the Barons Court Theatre hosted the London premiere of Still Life with Onions, a new play by author Robert Burbidge dealing with the trials and tribulations of those who were left behind after World War II. Set in a council tenement one year after the end of the conflict, the play revolves around four different people living in the same block. Strangers at first, with very little in common – except, perhaps, the most important thing: a shared wish to move on and start a new chapter in their lives. But that’s not easy when politics, arts and love intertwine in this grim atmosphere, still haunted by the ghosts of a past impossible not only impossible to forget, but still present in every speck of their future.
Penned with sensitivity and some gentle strokes of discernment, Burbidge drafts a compelling premise dealing with the clash between our feelings and critical thinking, many times also opposed to the even more brawling complexity of reality. Introducing us to some interesting archetypes working together in perfect tandem, the script manages to set the grounds for a much promising narrative – offering some exciting opportunities to explore both artistically and philosophically. Sadly, though, much of those chances evaporate through what, in the end, tends to be an unsatisfactory plot.
Though building up a solid journey for its characters, the possibilities their quest could (and probably, should) have brought along are wistfully overtaken by an excessively melodramatic outcome. There’s hints of perceptiveness throughout the dialogue, but too many moments are unfortunately overshadowed by lines that, apart from lacking sufficient credibility in their phrasing, also tend to sound too cliched from a narrative perspective. In addition, even though the concept has all the basic elements to function properly, the final delivery struggles to set the recount in motion, carving an unbalanced structure where action and exposition feel both rushed and saturated – thus, giving us the tools to know the personages, but unable to make us connect and, eventually, care about them.
Some credit must be given, nonetheless, to some of the performances. Despite a few minor flaws at some points, the company accomplishes some adequate levels of chemistry and occasional flair. Among them, the biggest praise goes to Christopher Kouros, thanks to his slightly over-the-top but still mention-worthy rendition, as well as Kieran Dobson, endowing his personage with enough charm and elegance to make his brief appearance, likely, the most memorable.
A tale of fight, remorse and healing, Still Life with Onions presents us with some layers of depth and thought-provoking substance, but keeps toiling when trying to peel its way through to the essence of its message. A clearer, more polished outline, allowing the roles to properly grow and evolve, will help the piece ooze its full potential, and bring out a stronger and more lasting flavour to what, so far, feels like bubbling but still bland recipe. It must be sour as it must be sweet. But it’s in that equilibrium that you find its real zest.
Still Life with Onions played at London’s Baron’s Court Theatre last week. Upcoming shows and tickets are available on the following link.