Alistair McDowall’s PONOMA was one of the most talked about productions of 2014. McDowall’s new piece “X” premiers at The Royal Court and the Yorkshire playwright once more creates a vivid world of dystopia and fear, this time by setting the action in a futuristic space base orbiting around Pluto. Yet despite McDowall’s imaginative writing, which raises questions about the fate of human kind, Vicky Featherstone’s production of “X” is one that audiences will either love or hate.In a sequence of scenes we meet the members of the British crew who have been sent on a mission to Pluto. There is the mature Ray (Darrell D'Silva) who remembers the day when all the birds died, a studious Cole (Rudi Dharmalingam), a funny and lazy Clark (James Harkness), young Mattie (Ria Zmitrowicz) and an agitated Gilda (Jessica Raine).
McDowall introduces us to the world of these people as tension begins to grow between them, for any message they send to Earth remains unanswered. Every second seems like a lifetime and once the last clock brakes, time like everything else in the bizarre world of “X” becomes just a memory.
“X” definitely benefits from a solid cast of capable actors especially from Darrel D’Silva’s powerful presence and Rudi Dharmalingam’s heart wrenching and truthful performance but Jessica Raine disappoints, relentlessly anxious, her character is not a believable one.
An interesting and at times exhilarating production
The set designed by Merle Hensel is excellent. The slightly tilted and clinical room of the space station creates a sense of confinement; a big window reminds us that escaping to the dark world out there is not an option whilst the flashing electronic clock on the wall constantly prods us to think about the meaning and importance of time.
McDowall’s genius in writing lies in a quick and sharp dialogue. Although at times hard to follow, watching the second part of the first half of “X” is like riding a rollercoaster. Unfortunately the second half is an anti-climax when the significant lack of pace prevents any tension. Even the various and thrilling plot twists don’t enliven a very long hour.
Overall “X” is an interesting and at times exhilarating production even if it strives a little too hard to be innovative and ground breaking.
Like Christopher Nolan’s recent film “Interstellar” which deals with a similar situation the urgency of the drama deteriorates towards the end, in both play and movie less would have meant more.
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