easthampshire.org

Three Days in May; at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.
Tuesday 11 – Saturday 15th October 2011

Ben Brown’s highly narrative play is a dramatization of the three days in 1940 during which the English War cabinet under the new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, debated whether or not to seek terms from Germany as Belgium and France collapsed and the British Expeditionary Force of over a quarter of a million men, trapped in Calais and Dunkirk, looked to be lost.

On a simple set, depicting the Cabinet Office in Ten Downing Street, the action is focused on the interplay between the five main protagonists and so is totally dependent on the skills of these five actors.

Director Alan Strachan has brought together a team which brings the characters to life with real drama. Led by Warren Clarke, as Winston Churchill, is at his bulldog best, cajoling, snarling, weeping and flattering to persuade the Torys in the coalition Cabinet that Britain must fight on, the cast of Jeremy Clyde as Lord Halifax, Robert Demeger outstanding as Neville Chamberlain, Michael Sheldon as Clement Atlee and Dicken Ashworth as Arthur Greenwood are a galaxy of English character actors at their best.

With James Alper as Jock Colville, Churchill’s secretary, providing the detailed narrative, a twentieth century Greek chorus, the play tells how close Britain came to surrender and appeasement. How the determination of one man carried the cabinet, government and country with him in the most critical days for Britain since 1066.

The play is also a gloriously timely reminder of the manipulation and negotiation needed to lead coalition government.

This play, carried by the high quality of its actors, is a reminder of what the country owes to the strength of character of Winston Churchill and Warren Clarke’s return to the stage is a wonderful recreation of Churchill’s spirit and inspiration.

easthampshire.org group:

• Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Reviewed by: bireland

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