REVIEW: The Cane, Royal Court Theatre ✭✭✭
Paul T Davies reviews Mark Ravenhill’s The Cane now playing at the Royal Court Theatre.
Paul T Davies reviews Mark Ravenhill’s The Cane now playing at the Royal Court Theatre.
Yes Gundog is a bleak play, but the script breaks into the most wonderful, poetic language, particularly from Mick, who delivers a beautiful speech about planting himself in the earth and the sky to protect his family.
Originally staged at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton, this is a timely revival that has been given added relevance by continuing debate over exploitation and masculinity.
Be warned, this is not a night at the theatre for the prissy or faint-hearted, the “Ladies” swear like sailors and the subject matter here is at times more like pornography, but that aside its one hell of a tale.
Maxine Peake is a skilled and sensitive actress who does everything possible to breathe life into her character, Dana, and the weird journey she takes. Peake is a joy to watch and listen to; she has several marvellous speeches, full of passion and energy, her classical skills to the fore.
Zinnie Harris’s How to Hold Your Breath is a perplexing play, but not necessarily in a bad way. With a shifting tone from comedy to horror, it takes you in different, unexpected directions so you never quite know where you are going or what is happening.
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