Someone Who'll Watch Over Me

This play is the directional debut at the Green Room for Nigel Banks and what a brilliant job he has made of it. The action takes place during the Civil War in the Lebanon, during the 1980’s and 90’, between various ethnic factions, both Christian and Muslim. It is set in a hellhole of a prison cell, where three foreign hostages are kept in chains, for little more than just being in Lebanon.

The play is just three handed, and what a brilliant job the three actors made, they are all equally superb. Stephen Redman played American, Adam Canning, who was arrested, for little more than being in Beirut. Daniel Millar, played Irish journalist Edward Sheridan, also arrested for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and finally Jason Munn played English University Lecturer, Michael Watters. All three were brilliant.

It must be very difficult for three actors to sustain the audience interest for two hours, but sustain it they did. Each character had reams of lines to learn, again no easy task, as I know from personal experience.

The guys told each other every last detail of their personal backgrounds in their respective countries, for example, we were told about the famous lobsters in San Francisco Bay, Peterborough Cathedral, and how brilliant it is from Michael and from Edward how rubbish the town of Strabane is back home.

To alleviate their total boredom, the lads carried out role plays, anything at all to pass the time. We enjoyed them  writing imaginary letters to their loved ones at home. Enjoying their imaginary drinks together, in some Irish bar, and we were even played out the Ladies Singles final of 1977, which was won by Virginia Wade.

There was a tremendous amount of humour, and pathos, as well as many arguments involved in the plot, and the lads never dropped their guard for a second. All three really were a ‘tour de force’. Congratulations to the three lads.

The set, the hell hole of a cell, was excellent. Lighting and sound were always very appropriate to the situations being played. All in all a brilliant  evening’s entertainment from the club. It’s a pity there weren’t more seats filled. Congratulations to everyone concerned .I look forward to my next visit to this very talented company.                                                              

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