The loneliness of the long distance actor
One man plays, particularly as extended monologues, put a lot of pressure both on the actor, and his or her audience.
Particularly with a single setting and set where there is no variation, other than the small movements of 3 chairs set around a table.
‘Trials of a Gentleman’, debuting at the Brockley Jack is no exception. Written and directed by Jon Lawrence (who also wrote the musical interludes), and performed by Kit Smith, it introduces us to David Martin, a primary school teacher, ‘born in the 60s and brought up in the 40s’ as he awaits police interview.
What he is ‘in’ for – half way through the play - is revelatory.
As were the demotic origins of this ‘old fashioned gentleman’ with his tie and his buttonhole flower.
Apart from a strange waltz, almost in darkness, with a hat stand, this is well acted, save for portions between, what might be scenes, accompanied by music. Clearly designed to give the actor a (well-deserved) break these are otherwise pointless – as he at times makes notes in a notebook to inform his upcoming police interview these could have been used for this purpose, but mainly weren’t.
Apart from these somewhat jarring hiatuses – which seemed dramatically unnecessary – this was an accomplished performance, and a good (in the sense of dramatically satisfying) story to tell.