DAVID Hare’s 1990 multi award-winning play about the Church of England in crisis is a modern classic though a demanding piece of work, and Director Stuart Hillman and his talented company tackled head-on the many issues the piece raises: doctrine, practice, gay clergy and the ordination of women.
Set in a South London parish, naïve and apologetic team leader Lionel Espy (a charming and sympathetic Tony Pond, ‘reeking of personal failure and anguish’) is at odds with current thinking, expounded firstly by Geoff Appleby’s food-obsessed Bishop of Southwark, but most importantly by his new and zealous young curate Tony Ferris (Chris Oliver excellent as the evangelically inspired firebrand).
As the other team members, James Gemmell as the gay Harry Henderson, and Ben Fricker as Donald ‘Streaky’ Bacon, gave strong support, the latter delivering a drunkenly moving soliloquy, while Jane Pardoe gave Frances, Tony’s girlfriend, real depth in an affectingly down-to-earth performance.
Ed Howson
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