UK Theatre Network

Wednesday 26th AUGUST

This wonderful yet dark new play had its debut at Richmond Theatre and will soon be headed to the West End. Written by Simon Bent, it was inspired by John Lahr’s biography and the diaries of British playwright, Joe Orton.

Set within the visual and ever changing confines of a small Islington flat, the play explores the trials and tribulations of one of Britain’s most noted homosexual playwrights, whose life is tragically ended in the murder-suicide by his long term partner.

The cast of three includes Chris New as Orton, Matt Lucas as his lover Halliwell and the delightful Gwen Taylor as Mrs Corden. All three delivered a finely constructed opening performance under the direction of Daniel Kramer.

Their daily existence within the flat is presented with a humorous and unfeigned approach. The comedic banter and insults between the collaborating duo are amusing. However, it is Taylor who especially shines as the nosy and loveable landlady. Her lightly peppered comedy helps to lift the play away from its more sinister undercarriage.

Played with finesse by Chris New, Orton is the determined and loveable rebel. RADA graduates and aspiring writers, Orton and Halliwell spend their time in the flat entertaining the notion of fame while they play out their own suggestive versions of popular radio dramas. Consequently, a stint by both in separate jails for defacing library books forks their path, with Orton honing his literary skills and simultaneously leaving his collaborator to the wayside.

Lucas delivers an intense performance as Halliwell, exploring the desperation he endures from the lack of intimacy from Orton, who would rather cruise for sex with random strangers. Adding to his own demons, he refuses to leave the flat and becomes somewhat a prisoner, passing his time collaging the walls.

It is this set design, by Peter McKintosh, that really adds a fantastic dimension to the play. The set replicates the actual flat they ‘co-habited’ in, including a bright pink and yellow chequered ceiling which immediately draws in the audience’s attention. As the years go by, the collage grows into a mishmash of faces. These faces that stare from the walls can be observed as the faces of art that mock the failed artist in Halliwell, while he subserviently watches Orton advance to critical acclaim. The retracting ceiling and endless collage really accentuate the eventual delusion and pit of despair that reduces Halliwell to a pill dependent train wreck.

While the ending of the play is grisly, it truly delivers a crushing sense of tragedy and heartache the couple must have endured. With hits such as ‘Entertaining Mr Sloane’ and ‘Loot’, Orton’s short lived yet prolific career may have seen him go on to become one of Britain’s most influential playwrights.

Overall, ‘Prick Up Your Ears’ is an absorbing piece of theatre which deserves to be celebrated. It begins its strictly limited run in the West End’s ‘Comedy Theatre’ from the 17^th of September.

http://www.prickupyourearstheplay.com/