Breaking the code

Good to see the return of Hazel Martin, in the production seat, after a lengthy absence.  She is always such a dedicated exponent of details and it was a very tight production.

Reading the title, one could expect the play to be set in one of the huts at Bletchley Park.   But this was a parallel tale covering the life of Alan Turing in various episodes and exposing the period with the ban on homosexuality. The backing slides with pictures of Bletchley Park, as well as his home and Manchester police station were well chosen and presented behind a minimal setting of furniture in lit acting areas. Those of us who have visited Bletchley Park could well imagine the different scenarios in scenes covering 1929-1954.

We heard about Turing’s marathon runs (he was good) and certainly this was a marathon role for Paul James, with a relentless and huge amount of dialogue.   A real tour de force and almost unimaginable to learn, quite amazing and brilliant to match the man he portrayed.  We heard about his being chosen for Bletchley with the crossword competition and work there, plus his follow-up work and the mathematics towards conceiving a computer-led world.   His intellect was exposed for all to see but, in this play, we also saw his relationships with family and friends and his personal struggles with himself.   The moods were all very well tackled and it was a well thought out portrayal.

The supporting roles all very well cast into strong character studies. D S Ross (Jon Winnett) with his relentless and continuing questioning, regarding the reported burglary, which led to the revelation of Turing’s homosexuality.   Certainly he did not let go.    Paul Minett as Dillwyn Cox at Bletchley with his pursuit for the right kind of mind and diligence of objectivity to work on the secrets hidden in the huts.  Peter Howell as John Smith checking out the trustworthiness of Turing in a very secret situation.

The two women in his life were portrayed with strength and sympathy. Janet Hignett as his mother gave an excellent interpretation as she aged and realised that her darling son was flawed, in the eyes of the world, despite his brilliance.   She could hardly believe it.  Briony Thompson as Patricia Green, who worked with him and loved him (in spite of himself) and tried to help, a very sympathetic role and faithful to the end.

David Robinson as Ron Miller, picked up in the pub and taken home for the affair, he stole from Turing (the burglary), drank with him and returned after leaving him, the man for whom Turing gave his life, a strong portrayal.

This was a thought-provoking piece of writing with all the revelations and relationships, especially after the passage of time since 1954, and how the world perceives these relationships in present days. Interesting programme note in quote from Gordon Brown in 2009, "on behalf of the British government and all those who live freely, thanks to Alan’s work, I am proud to say we’re sorry, you deserved so much better".

 

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.