A Game

by Dennis E Noble 

Directed by Tom Barber

Nidderdale and District Drama Festival Entry, 2024

"This is my land. It is mine. It is beautiful, and it is mine."

Three people accept an invitation to take part in an experiment - a game in which a small room is divided into three equal areas - one for each person.  At intervals they recite a slogan: "This is my land. It is mine. It is beautiful, and it is mine."  As the game progresses, we see the drive that makes each human want to possess more than his neighbours - a drive that causes hatred... and starts wars.

This play starts with farce and ends in tragedy and is brought to startling reality in this production by Tom Barber and his cast.  They create a powerful dramatic piece by virtue of their superb ensemble acting and leave us with a very uneasy view of global unrest.

The direction of the play by Tom Barber was the key to its success.  From the comedy at the start to the tragedy of the end, his hand was clearly on the tiller.  The staging, with the 3 game-players confined to their own third of a stage could have been constrictive but his direction enabled them to make full use of the space.  There was constant interaction and reaction and a good variety of pace and tone. The two props of the door with the light and the chair were just right.  This was a very impressive directorial debut indeed, not least considering the total lack of stage directions in the script.

Carol Bailey as Dr Henning starts us off with broad comedy and absurdity which put the audience at their ease.  Then at the end when she was trying and failing to gain control she showed tremendous stage presence. 

The initial farcical atmosphere is developed by those taking part in the experiment through their child-like behaviour. 

As the play develops the mood starts to darken as Carter, Baker and Edson played by Jenny MacNair, Hugh Cawley and Michael Thorne start to become increasingly territorial about their third of the stage.  This was consummate acting from these three as they gradually racked up the tension. 

The way that the cast transformed the mood was impressive.  Hugh Cawley as Baker became gradually more aggressive and this showed in his eyes and a subtle gesture of nervousness.  Michael Thorne as Edson seemed intelligent and amiable at the beginning but then became territorial as his tension started to show in his facial expression and delivery.  Jenny MacNair as Carter started with expressions of doubt about not liking the game but then became smug about the ownership of her chair eventually using it as a weapon in the final terrifying moments.

And it is in the violent impact of the ending that we shared Dr. Henning's confusion and complain, as she does, “But it's only a game!”.   And it is a game, this playing with nationalism - but it is a deadly game - it kills.

Read into this play any of the current World tensions from the Ukraine to the Middle East to immigration in the UK and you would be right.  This is not a comfortable play but is a play for our time.  This magnificent production continues to disturb, intrigue, and move us long after the curtain fell.

Review by John Wright

Tom Barber with the winning trophies on display in the Playhouse