REVIEW

Featuring an explosive opening with a loud gunshot and a piercing scream – echoed in the play’s symmetrical ending – this is ingenious and enjoyable work.

Written (in a week!) in 1932 by JB Priestley – the first of his 40-odd plays, it’s ostensibly a typical 1930s drawing-room drama, with seven wealthy, successful, self-satisfied characters enjoying an elegant dinner party.

In upper-class English accents they refer urbanely to “the afternoon post delivery” and apologise smoothly for “dropping bricks”. But as shocking secrets are revealed, tension increases, tempers rise and insults are exchanged: “That was beastly!”, “Don’t be a cad!”, and “You rotten swine!”

Despite occasional over-wordiness – particularly in the first half – this play was considered daring and controversial for the 1930s, exploring marital infidelity, financial business theft, homosexuality and recreational drugs – all still relevant today!

Seven superb London Repertory actors convey a wide range of emotions, unpleasant truths, half-truths, lies, and astounding revelations.

The missing eighth character Martin – who apparently committed suicide (or did he?) – acts as the catalyst for the other characters’ turmoil of emotions: guilt, jealousy, love, lust, and loathing.

Brilliant direction by Vernon Thompson allows this tremendous play to end with a bang, and then seem to start again, allowing the audience to see things afresh…

Dangerous Corner runs until next Tuesday August 14, nightly at 7.30.

Next week a new play starts – Francis Durbridge’s Suddenly at Home – don’t miss it!

Brendan McCusker