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Robert Wisepart presents Apartment 2012
by Julian Sims
Director: Michael Kingsbury
White Bear Theatre
April 6 – 25, 2010
A review by James Richards for EXTRA! EXTRA! Nuclear apocalypse notwithstanding, the year 2012 is going to be a hoot. Julian Sim’s new work Apartment 2012 tells the story of a family of Jewish-American refugees, who, surviving a nuclear attack on the United States, flee to Yalta in ‘post-communist’ Russia. And it is almost perfect. From a writer of comedy TV series Smack the Pony, you would expect gags. Bickering Jewish family, secretly gay son, world order turned on its head – the material is stuffed to bursting with potential humour, and Sims delivers time and time again, aided by the superb cast. Sam (John Guerrasio) and Barbara (Sue Kelvin) crackle along as the husband and wife who always seem to be one step ahead of catastrophe and half a step behind each other. Their struggle to survive in a foreign land despite the unwanted attentions of the locals is the story of the Jewish people – we’ve seen the same chutzpah from Woody Allen, David Mamet and innumerable stand-up artistes, so it’s a miracle that the material feels so fresh. Most of the humour is drawn from observations of family life, woven into blink-and-you’ll-miss-it dialogue, but Sims also has an eye for sit-com style conceits, such as the son and his lover hiding behind the sofa after their tryst is interrupted. Action plays a key role too; Russian gangster Ivan (Joe Ferrera) is genuinely sinister, dripping with gold and sporting a tasteless yellow Hawaiian shirt. Like lightening he draws a pistol and I for one ducked. Your respect for Sims grows and grows – when the frightening Ivan character makes Barbara an offer she dare not refuse, the atmosphere in the intimate White Bear Theatre is absolutely electric. I was sick to my stomach at the prospect – but then, Sims turns the whole situation into a hilarious physical gag that draws belly-laughs in waves from the audience. Unfortunately, several confusing decisions stymie the end of the show, perhaps owing to Sims' sit-com instincts. Returning the family to their original situation is deeply unsatisfying, as is the ‘what was the meat?’ joke, which completely undermines the scene’s potential pathos. Equally, the final revelation with regards to Barbara and their nosy neighbour Mrs Belakov is far too neat to be believable. Perhaps Sims belittles his talent by recoursing to tricks such as these. Director Michael Kingsbury knows he’s working with some excellent material and lets the cast enjoy themselves. He’s rewarded with brilliant performances for the Guerrasio and Kelvin (who for all we know, are still bickering) and Drew Horner as the frustrated son Victor (who is probably bickering along with them). The to-ing and fro-ing between the family is certainly the star of the show, so don’t look too closely for heaps of satire or anything so mundane. ‘Where’s the fi-ya?’, asks Barbara, wondering what the fuss is all about. I’m not sure, but Apartment 2012 sure is one hot ticket.
White Bear Theatre 020 7735 8664 £10 – 14
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