What the Dickens?
The arrival of the internet has allowed us to take ‘role play’ to the next level. We all play different ‘roles’ in life: being different at work than when we are at home is an obvious example; and you would surely act-out your Friday nights differently if your Mum or Dad were out with you and your mates. The recent advent of the on-line Role Playing Game means we can live out our personalities in very different ways in all kinds of virtual reality situations. It is the perfect refuge of the socially disadvantaged (aka geek): you get to do all the things you’re too scared to do in real life. Like have a conversation with a member of the opposite sex.
Anthony Neilson explores the relationship between Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and the internet generation in his new RSC-commissioned God In Ruins.
A Christmas Carol is a great example of a Victorian RPG, with the ghosts of Christmases present, past and future showing Scrooge various outcomes of his behaviour, without anybody getting hurt.
Neilson’s latest offering is spot-on, up-to-the-minute fun with this idea.
The audience at the Soho Theatre are drawn into a world of Victoriana crossing over into the present day, (sometimes so present that you may be believe that Neilson finished writing the script while you were getting your pre-show drink) and many of the Carol’s conventions are given the Neilson treatment: a funny and surreal mix of sex and politics (and therefore drugs), and religion and identity, that leaves the audience at times gasping for the air they have just exhaled with so much laughter.
Other moments are touching and relevant with references to death, Iraq, and an imaginary reality TV show where the contestants really are monkeys.
Sam Jones’ casting is exquisite, with Brian Doherty’s sozzled reality TV producer coming across as every inch an English Rab C Nesbitt, and Sam Cox’s delivery is deliciously dry and droll as Doherty’s father’s ghost.
The entire cast is in fact superb, and, whilst I could write about every single one of them, I don’t want to give too much away. Instead, here is a cast list by way of credit and thanks for a splendidly witty night out.
Go and see it and discover it for yourself.
PS: Don’t take the kids if regular swearing and sex stuff is offensive.
Tim Daish
God in Ruins. Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London, W1D 3NE, www.sohotheatre.com
Written and Directed by Anthony Neilson
An RSC commission.
29th November – 5th January
Cast
Jude Akuwudike
Richard Atwill
Sam Cox
Brian Doherty
Ryan Gage
Emmanuel Ighodaro
Sean Kearns
Jason Nwoga
Patrick O’Kane
Mark Theodore
Joel Trill
