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The Questors present
THE COUNTRY
Written by: Martin Crimp
Directed by: Lorraine Hill
Performed by: Stephanie Boyle, Jude Claybourne,Mike Hadjipateras
Questors Ealing’s Theatre: Studio
9-22 February 2008
 Couzens
A review by Amber Gregory for EXTRA! EXTRA!
Every word in the play is important. Every way a word is spoken and performed is significant. This is a carefully written play by Martin Crimp where each line has an underlying tone. Richard and Corrine have moved to The Country to get away from the dangers of The City. These dangers however follow them to this new world, mainly in the form of Rebecca, who Richard ‘finds’ one night by the side of a road. Rebecca is confident, sexual and passionate. Corrine is icily English. Throughout the play we see their characters develop and we the audience psychoanalyse what their relationships are to Richard. The plot in itself could be seen as clichéd- like most relationship plays it is struggles mainly with the issues of adultery. However, as the language flows poetically the words are wonderful to hear, even if the story is one similar to one we may have heard before.
The parts of the women, played by Stephanie Boyle and Jude Claybourne are juxtaposed perfectly. The carefree attitude of Rebecca of is emphasised by her American accent, and Corrine comes across as a cold English woman, even her eyes give off a chilling effect. Mike Hadjipateras playing Richard seems lost and confused in this world of women where in a typically male attitude he seems to believe he holds the power- however he is deeply mistaken as both women continue to play him throughout the performance.
The performance is intense. It is not always easy to watch but it is gripping and impossible for the audience to look away from the small stage. The audience are seated around three sides of the stage which makes us feel a close part of the action, thus being drawn into the characters lives closely. As the language of the play is poetic, so is the performance given by the actors it flows forward, where we are gripped by every word, twisting and turning along with the lives of the characters. Directed by Lorraine Hill this was a challenging play to tear apart and sew back together, but it has been done so carefully- giving subtle suggestions to ways in which the play should be interpreted, yet leaving us enough room to also draw our own conclusions throughout the story.
Box Office 020 8567 5184 www.questors.org.uk
Tickets: £10.50 (£9.50 concessions, £5.00 students) Performance: 19.45
12 Mattock Lane, Ealing W5 5BQ
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