A Darkling Plain

A true work of original theatre, A Darkling Plain is a jaunty romp through an Enid-Blyton-inspired landscape of jingoism and naïvete. You will laugh hard – and you'll leave with a lump in your throat.

The use of language is inspired. A play liberally using words like “hullabaloo,” and “bloody lovely” could easily descend into gimmickry. But in the capable hands of this cast, 1940's idioms cast an older, innocent Britain against modern events in a powerful statement about the bankruptcy of the 'stiff upper lip' in a time of lies and soundbytes.

This play has impact. When bodies hit the floor it's not at the hands of the 'Hun' or even the terrorists. It's the “friendly fire” of the Americans which claims British lives – and the arrogance that hides negligent homicide behind a weak government apology. It's the 'War on Terror' recast in the 1940's, injected full of blithe British jingoism and sharpened to a razor's edge.

In a cast with no passengers, special mention should be given to Kate-Thuli Lamb whose performance delivers laughter and poignancy with power and finesse. The young Izzy Steane also shines as a boy who's war poem (taken from the poem by Matthew Arnold) provides the title of the piece, and one of the funniest and most touching scenes in the production.

There are few plays which deliver laughter as well as this one, and few with as much heart or brains. To sum up, this play is a triumph. Watch it. Watch it today.