Pressure

Pressure was written by David Haig and is based on the true story of the days leading up to the D-Day landings in June 1944. Everything was ready to go for the biggest invasion in history in Europe: D-Day, but one question was on everyone's mind, what was the weather going to be like?

Director Lucie Evans has an excellent cast for this play. The set was a simple office room with furniture of the time that was moved around at the start to make it just right by James Stagg, with large cloth weather charts being added along the way. Sound and lighting was very good with great effects when the planes were going over, and the rain storm. There is also a screen on the side giving us a time line to follow.

Steven Reynolds is excellent as Captain James Stagg the Chief Meteorological Officer for the Armed Forces. He's a great character and you really feel for him, when he's convinced of the upcoming storm, making sure he's giving the right information, also when his wife went into hospital to have their 2nd child. David Kehoe plays the American know it all weatherman Colonel Krick. He thinks that the weather will be fine. Nick Guy is great in the role of General Eisenhower, he has to decide which of the two to put his trust in. The American or the Scottish weather analyst. His decision could seal the fates of thousands of men but could also win or lose the war.

Anna Wallis plays Kay Summersby, Eisenhower's driver and helper who was lovely in the role.There are some lovely moments between her and James Stagg, when she volunteers to go to the hospital for him, and also when she shared an orange with Eisenhower. The other equally important parts were played by Paul Berry, Richard Bennett, Tim Wallace-Abbott, Andrew Chappell and Tom Andrews. Everyone is great in their roles and keep the tension up throughout. There is a lot of information within this play and this comes across, needless to say the invasion was delayed a day because of the storm and the rest they say is history. Well done.

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