Reviews
Patient No 1, York Theatre Royal Studio
A WORLD premiere is always
to be welcomed, even if the
risk is greater than
mounting a tried and tested piece.
But this play by Americafs leading
political playwright, Donald Freed,
left me, like one of its main
characters George Bush, in two
minds.
The piece is interesting,
stimulating and provocative, but I
canft actually say I enjoyed it. I
admired the way director Damian
Crudenfs slick production does
much to disguise the inevitable
wordiness. The acting, too, is
never less than superb, but as a
play it failed to engage me.
The time is a few years in the
future, the place a psychiatric
clinic (think posh madhouse). The
President (Robert Pickavance), or
Patient No 1 as hefs known, is
enjoying a stay under the watchful
eye of a leading psychologist (Jon
Farris). His carer is a security
agent (Jonathan Race) able only
to communicate with words such
as Negative, Affirmative and
Roger.
Those expecting a vicious satire
or hilarious spoof on the Bush
years will be sorely disappointed.
Perhaps that would have been too
easy, too obvious as Bush is an
easy target to ridicule. What we
get is part mystery (what is the
patient trying to say?) that turns
into something thatfs more of an
examination of the state of
America in general rather than
Bush in particular.
John Farris carries with
admirable ease the burden of the
first act as the Doctor, trying to do
his job but hampered by a
seemingly off-his-head Bush and a
security agent who does
everything by the book.
When, in the second act, the
patient is taken off his medication
and finally able to make himself
heard, Robert Pickavance comes
into his own with a portrait of a
politician shooting from the lip
while dressed as a cowboy.
Until May 17. Tickets 01904-
623568 or online at
www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
10:22am Thursday 8th May 2008
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