Review: Magical first impression but this play needs work

The Priory Theatre in Kenilworth is so delightfully staffed with warm and welcoming people. The theatre was cosy, and the seats comfortable – all important to the audience.

The opening scene of Damages was beautiful. Designed by Phil Spencer and the Priory team, it showed a night sky of London illuminated through the windows of an everyday office. It was a magical first impression and being a night time indicated we were in for an ‘out of hours‘ experience.

Having a cast of four confined to an office for the whole play kept the audience in this slightly claustrophobic atmosphere with the actors. The play cleverly highlights the tricks celebrities will get up to in order to manipulate the press.

We were meant to believe Baby Spice was in the foyer – that didn’t quite work - but none the less, it gave the impression that this was a vital tabloid paper interested in big headlines and big fees to attract big stories.

The editor Howard, played by Stuart Lawson, demanded a massive energy as a slightly eccentric ‘always with glass of wine in hand’ cynical character. A very challenging role: maybe Howard was a tad too removed from whatever is driving this character to stay at work until late into the evening. He certainly wasn’t busy and shuffling a few papers around wasn’t enough to justify why he was there most nights that late. Although we learn his wife had died so maybe work is all he has, he still didn’t show us just how low life had become. Was he fed up with it all? Did he feel no one else could take his place? Did he love his job? Lawson looks the part, has a demanding presence and just needs the confidence to go for it.

The front page was a central theme and the very biting journalist, Lister, played by Colin Ritchie, had the energy to take his character much further than he did in last night’s performance. He was on the ball and I felt confident he knew his lines and knew his focus – unlike some of the other characters who, on the first night, needed prompts. It always makes the audience feel uncomfortable when a prompt is needed and as it happened a few times I was holding my breath for most of the second half.

Abigail, played by Lydia Ward, was too one dimensional and didn’t really let herself become more complex until the end of Act 2 and then we saw her potential as the part of the media lawyer. Lydia has a good voice and once she understands that tonal variation is vital - as is a change of gesture - then she will relax into this highly interesting and captivating character.

The younger journalist, played by Ben Williams, didn’t hold much credibility as someone who would survive for long in the cut and thrust world of hacks and bitterness. He was too gentle and too vague. With some tweeking and sharpening up he could contrast well with Lister, but as it stood last night, he was almost a push over – not quite – but almost.

The production needs the air of a nasty, selfish hard core tabloid intent on getting its own way. Director Pater Davis made an interesting choice with this play, but it needs tightening. Lessen the pauses, give the characters something to do, make sure the phones actually ring – and keep ringing.

Create some subtlety in the more illuminating moments when the characters are revealed as human beings - and this could be a very fine production.

Monica Troughton