The Collapse Of Society

Revolution, democracy, conspiracy and protest are words that would ignite even the most placid of people.

So it’s only right that Havel’s play, ‘The Conspirators,’ which covers these provocative themes, is performed with intense vigour and command.

The play starts with a domestic scene set in an unnamed country. The warmth of domesticity is soon replaced by feelings of alarm and panic as we learn students are on the brink of anarchy.  A fallen dictatorship has been replaced by a fragile and ineffective government, stirring young minds to protest and revolt.

With rumours and apparent sightings of the fallen dictator General Olaf, a sense of urgency shrouds a concerned group of people who feel the need to act before Olaf manages to mobilise his supporters.

This is no dull political play; strong characters and some surprising scenes add delight and humour. David Rintoul gives a particularly strong performance as Colonel Moher, as a sadistic, boorish chief of police. His unbridled and highly charged performance is impressive.

Rintoul’s domineering performance is perfectly balanced with Lucy Tregear’s performance as rich widow, Helga.  Tregear is beguiling and seductive as the complex character, a woman who uses her female charm to manipulate men to behave in any way she feels fit. Helga’s ability to do this highlights the weakness in human nature. Even with good intentions and political ideals, humans are essentially self-serving and corrupt. Unexpected scenes of S&M between Helga and Colonel Moher add perhaps unintentional farce and indeed, the  play is not without humour. Keiron Jecchinis ‘s delightful as Head of Censorship, intentionally hilarious with spot-on comic timing. Although his character is honest with good intention, he’s essentially ineffective and little more than a bumbling fool. However, ineffective to the play he is not. The character’s ability to inject humour is essential to the play.

With Libya overthrowing a 40-year dictatorship and the uncertainty of what the future holds, Havel’s play couldn’t be more relevant.

The Conspirators is at the Orange Tree theatre in Richmond till Saturday 1 October www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk/The-Conspirators