Theatre / Reviews
Review: Pornography, Alma Tavern Theatre
Bristol student company Seliges Theater return with Simon Stephens’ 2007 play, which focuses on events leading up to the July 2005 London bombings.
Pornography is presented as a series of monologues, detailing the lives of seven Londoners and counting down to the first suicide attacks on London. Raw, complex, anthropological and full of human sadness, the play attempts to shed light on the individual aspects of the London bombings – including the bomber himself.
The audience is given brief glimpses into the lives of a conflicted, aggressive schoolboy, a revengeful office worker, an incestuous brother and sister, a stunted ex-student and her frustrated lecturer, a lonely old woman – and, finally, the bomber himself.
These mini-plays can be performed in any order and by any number of actors at one time. It’s an interesting concept: however, with no direct mention or discussion of the bombings that killed 52 innocent civilians, the audience is left with a feeling that something has been overlooked, and it feels like an important omission.
Unfortunately the complex and delicate nature of this play is overshadowed and disregarded by Seliges’ relatively weak production, which fails to engage the audience or encourage any emotional investment. A glimmer of hope is offered in the shape of Teja Boocock as a lonely and disillusioned old lady who, walking home after the bombings, smells barbecuing chicken from a neighbour’s garden and asks to join in. She is laughed at and mistreated – and Boocock presents a saddening performance, the first and only emotion for the audience to engage with. Unfortunately by the time Boocock presents this penultimate performance, the audience is so disconnected that her sensitive performance can do little to reclaim their attention.
Seliges have included a tribute to the 52 people that lost their lives: a slide show of images with voiceovers communicating brief facts about each victim. It’s a nice touch – and arguably the first and only time the audience is directly offered any information or reference to the London bombings themselves – but, once again, it’s oddly emotionless and disjointed.
Stephens’ play – dark, complex, shocking, laden with emotion – was perhaps a challenge too far for Seliges Theater. However, this production is not without glimmers of talent and depth, and it will be interesting to see how Seliges improve and mature.
Pornography was at the Alma Tavern Theatre from Sun, June 19 to Mon, June 20. For the current Alma programme, visit www.almataverntheatre.co.uk/theatre/what-s-on
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