I am not a number, I am a free man

A Number - Peacock Theatre

The London version of this play had Michael Gambon and Daniel Craig. One version in America had Sam Shepard playing the father. Unfortunately, in Ireland, we got two relatively unknowns. This was not always meant to be the case. In fact, Tom Hickey was meant to play the father, but after 'artistic differences' with the director, pulled out with two weeks to go. I'm sure this lead to a huge amount of panic, and meant that the guy they did end up with, was unfortuately, someone who was not working at this time. I think this may have been with good reason. He was a plank!
The other actor involved was much more up to speed. He had the more difficult role of the two, having to play three differect characters in the one piece. Each as clones of the other, each fundamentally different from the other!
There did seem to be some basic quality in the writing, but it barely escaped from what was on stage. The main device, used throughout the play, is of having one actor finish the other's sentences for them. It showed how under rehearsed the play was, as there was clear gaps between when one stopped and when the other actor started talking! There was be a brief pause from when one stopped talking before the other picked up on the thread, which felt bizarre, like dead air on the radio!
It was a pity as the play may have been good, but with this leaden performance, was never destined to make the grade. The night I went to it, there was a secondary school year at it. I'm sure they got reduced price or free tickets to fill up the space. The Peacock will have to do a heck of a lot better before the crowds will come back to its doors.

Will be interesting to see how Sam Shepard does with his new play. Going next week. Should be fun anyway....