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Mercurial Productions present:
A review bySimon Clancy for EXTRA! EXTRA!
The tagline for Mercurial Production’s debut show has all the hallmarks of 90s Sci-Fi: ‘What if you found yourself between worlds, unsure of which was real?’ But as writer Doris Lessing says of her original novel from which this visual performance is based, Briefing is more along the lines of ‘inner space fiction,’ which is a tad disappointing (we need more space opera on the London stage people!) In truth, what Mercurial presents us with is an hour-long slice of physical theatre brought to life by a man with total amnesia and an active imagination, who conjures an alternate reality within the walls of a hospital ward. Is he Sinbad the Sailor or Charles Watkins, a 34-year-old university lecturer with a wife and son? It turns out the question is irrelevant: Mercurial are far more concerned with probing the nature of reality than unearthing the leading man’s true identity. And yet, it is an issue that nags throughout, and one never truly resolved. But give credit where it’s due: at their first attempt, Mercurial have crafted a convincing portrayal of one man’s plight in such a way that, while it remains faithful to Lessing’s original tale, Briefing also exhibits a great deal of fluid and meaningful physical expression. And while no individual actor truly excels, it is a strong ensemble cast on display, who do well to transform the small space of the Camden People’s Theatre seamlessly into distinctly separate realms. As an afterthought, I suppose the show could’ve benefited from a stronger lead performance than that of James Turpin, but on the whole, the acting standard is very high indeed and Turpin does a credible enough job. Clearly, Tom Rowland’s original soundtrack also stands out. Fittingly abstract, littered with absurd reverse delay effects and thumping beats, it is perhaps this aspect of Briefing which gives it its peculiar ambience more so than any other. In sum, then, Briefing is a debut production Mercurial can be proud of. Though Lessing’s tale is not the most original basis for live performance these days (see Bounce’s recent dance extravaganza Insane in the Brain), I recommend it heartily to those looking for a different kind of close encounter.
Camden People’s Theatre
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