A question of sanity
BLUE/ORANGE
Courtyard Covent Garden
The plight of Christopher is whether or not he should be released after his 28 days in a mental hospital after being sectioned.
But the two people who have any kind of say over this decision, his counsellor and senior consultant, have polar opposite opinions on what to do.
Joe Penhall’s play is a perceptive and realistic look at a black Borderline Personality Disorder sufferer’s fate at the hands of the mental health establishment.
The caring junior registrar, played with fantastic conviction by Jonathan Baker, wants to keep Christopher at the home as he thinks he may be a danger to himself and others.
The senior consultant however feels that the young doctor is overreacting and wants the bed freed as soon as possible.
It is around this battle that the play revolves and as it takes in such themes as hospital policy, racism and the nature of insanity we come to discover the hypocrisies, catch-22s and lies of the characters and the institution they inhabit.
The witty dialogue steams along on its black humoured tracks at express speed but never forgets to stop and spend time with character, themes and story.
But the very simple set of a water cooler and a table and chairs which is rotated twice has a slightly jarring effect. Especially as the final rotation, part way through the second half, is clumsy and unnecessary, particularly as the house lights come on during the change.
It is not clear whether this is for the audience or to symbolise the different perspectives of the protagonists.
But this does not detract from the air of authenticity which, through the medical jargon and particularly in Femi Ogunbanjo’s portrayal of a possibly schizophrenic BPD sufferer, is thick throughout.
The two halves are slightly unbalanced. The first could have finished appropriately 10 minutes before it did and the climax is overlong and not much of a climax at that, but the superb acting and swift, insightful script make it a highly satisfying experience.
Until Sept 24
0870 1630717
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