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Mokita Productions Involution
by Rachel Welch Pacific Playhouse 21 Feb – 15 Mar 08
A review by Alan Taylor for EXTRA! EXTRA!
Involution is a play set in the not too distant future where Londoners are genetically coded to assess their suitability for job roles, Christianity has experienced a revival after uncovering the tomb of Jesus, but the last genetic revolution of cloning is still taboo and illegal. Cohen, a rich geneticist suffering from Degenerative Bowel Disorder, is fighting the government’s order to experiment with cloning and thereby cure his, his sister Dorcet’s and his devout Christian friend Talulah’s condition. That is until his old schoolfriend J comes to town. Along with his girlfriend Violet, they start to unravel the personal politics and the huge reverberations of messing with the gene pool. Ursula Early does a stunning job as Dorcet; her heartfelt interpretation of the slightly eccentric, free loving bohemian is really very touching. She was definitely the most genuine with excellent characterisation. Her interplay with Samantha Hopkins (the sex toy robot, Gemma) is wonderful and provided many of the comic moments. Sadly, Hopkins was not used to full effect and had lots to give. Ben Murray-Watson’s interpretation of Cohen jarred slightly, reading psychotic frenzies as Shakespearian death monologues, his forced pronunciation ran directly in conflict with the affectionate hermit-like way Cohen was written. In turn, this makes some of the more emotive scenes in which he is involved inauthentic. A play with many layers to unpeel, it is uncertain from the outset where we will be taken with this premise and, as an audience, we are left wondering if all the loose ends really have been tied up. Welch set herself a difficult task, but by polarising the debate (religion vs. state, cloning vs. robotics), she makes a few steps towards tackling the argument. However, there are some interesting elements that are left hanging. For example, is it right to create artificial intelligence? Why is this acceptable and playing with human life is not? What about the so-called Eden Project (a project briefly referenced in the play where only women could enter, and a virgin pregnancy had occurred)? Does faith heal or is it only an illusion? Will humans always experience freedom and burden with equal measure? Welch undoubtedly has a talent, but this play is more of a work in progress than a completed piece. At points, it seems like 6 drama students are improvising on a theme and at other times a strong and poignant political debate, the lack of polarised morality within the characters (not the play) seems to point to the problem. If their moral (or even amoral) stances were firmer and clearer, the play would pack more of a punch. Speaking of punch, a little trimming of the unnecessary dialogue would perfect this play; it needs to be succinct and have strong statements to swim. The play could have ended at any point and the audience would have got the main thrust. Subtlety with strong emotional scenes, or strong political statements mixed with action would have set the play off. Instead, Welch tries to have her cake and eat it, and it seems to over-run about 2 scenes too long. Still a good, watchable and very worthy play, it doesn’t contain the same singularity as something like A Number by Caryl Churchill that successfully tackles cloning, but tries to go that one step further. It’s thought-provoking, touching and will hit all the right spots with theatre-goers and chins will be wagging with heavy ethical debate. I mean, just look at how much I had to say about it!
Involution is playing until the 15th of March nightly at 7.30pm Matinees at 3pm on the 24th, 2nd and 9th of March Tickets £10/ £8 conc. For more info call 02078030897 www.ticketsource.co.uk/mokitaproductions
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