The American Pilot (The North Wall, Oxford)
The North Wall fulfils a much needed role in the Oxford theatre scene. In a city where large touring shows and the student scene are dominant, it is pleasing that there is a place like The North Wall to showcase new works performed by amateur companies.
It is pleasing to report therefore that The American Pilot is an enjoyable experience from start to finish. A piece of new writing commissioned for the Royal Shakespeare Company a few years ago, it tackles the truly huge subject of America and the perception of America around the world. John Mansfield plays the titular pilot who has crashed in an unnamed country that is going through the death pains of a decades long civil war. His arrival provokes consternation in the inhabitants of the village he ends up in. The Farmer will do anything for a quiet life, the Trader sees the opportunity for profit, the Captain ponders how this arrival can help his cause and the Translator plots bloody violence. Each character represents a different point of view on the presence of America in the world outside America.
It reminded me a lot of the kind of writing that used to be seen at the Royal Court a lot in the late eighties and early nineties: vaguely state-of-the-nation plot, focusing on a few ordinary lives and concluding with a bonkers supernatural / religious twist.
My main problem with the writing is that whilst David Greig has obviously worked painstakingly hard to steer a course between the pillars of pro and anti-Americanism, I think the piece is in fact more anti-American than he thinks it is. The character of the Translator is most problematic for this reason. For example, whilst the Captain and the Farmer are complex and thoughtful characters, the Translator is a much more conventional representation of terroristic attitudes. I was troubled by the amount of sympathy that was indicated this character was due, especially as it came via the hackneyed plot device of him having lost his wife in an American air strike. Secondly, I have been mulling it over since last night and referring to my theatregoing companion and neither of us have any idea what to make of the aforementioned religious twist. I’m still thinking about it.
Having said all that, this non-professional production is agreeably rough around the edges and highly engaging. The cast do their best to keep the action snappy and it succeeds really well in holding the attention when it could have been a preachy yawn-fest. Highlights include the inventive staging in the final scene, Audrina Oakes-Cottrell as Evie and the wonderful Jim Cottrell as the Farmer. The latter gives an absolutely lovely performance as the man stuck in the middle of other people’s plans.
The American Pilot is flawed but highly worthwhile. If you are the sort of person who goes to the theatre in order to endlessly dissect the show afterwards, there isn’t a better production on in town at the moment. Hmmmmm…..
– Josh Tomalin
www.oxfordtheatreguild.com
