Photo: Andrew Brown
Perhaps it is simply the quirk of the year so far, but production values, such as sets, costumes, lighting, are on the recovery in our theatre. For many years our professional managements have thought nothing of presenting fringe festival mises en scène with the lonely actors on an unmasked stage and two flats visibly braced by bricks.
Under the Fig Tree is a tragic romance about Anna (Diaan Lawrenson) and Peter (Jodie Abrahams) falling in love across the colour bar, and generations later, the sad inheritors (Beth and Jake also played by Lawrenson and Abrahams) of that heartbreak. A play celebrating love, it has been lovingly designed and beautifully staged with luscious costumes, sumptuous set, atmospheric lighting and carefully chosen props each with a strong presence. On top of this is a trio of soulful musicians.
Unfortunately, the manufactured script is that of a television soap and not a good one at that: turgid monologues, formulaic interactions, endless clichés, predictable plot lines etcetera. “I can see the flames flickering in your eyes” etcetera. If production values are on the resurgence, perhaps we should still hold out hope for reviving the art of writing a play.
