Days Of Significance (Tour – Salford)

Roy Williams’ new play from the RSC about the trials and tribulations of
a group of young people and how they are affected by the war in Iraq could not have come at a
better time, as the government investigation into events is taking place right
now.

We first meet the main characters on a typical drink-fuelled
night out and this works tremendously well, as the war seems to be on the
streets as violence and jealousy rear their ugly heads, as the group use
alcohol to press their self destruct buttons.

Jamie (George Rainsford), Ben (Toby Wharton) and Tony (Danny
Dalton) are about to join up and we watch in awe as these boys naively expect
adventure and thrills and spills; gradually facing up to the fact that the first casualty
of war is truth.

The community at home wait and wonder, and revelations and
skeletons in closets are unearthed when the soldiers return home, to a far from excited heroes’ welcome, that we often view via the media.

Where Williams excels is that fact that he subverts many
stereotypes. Instead of focusing on families of the boys, he shows us their friends
and girlfriends – as they too battle with the fact that these lads will not be
the same when they arrive back on terra firma.

Rainsford is remarkable as Jamie; the fighter on home turf
on a Saturday night, yet a frightened little boy in Iraq.
This actor gives a chameleon-like turn, conveying his character’s tortured mind
incredibly well. He is matched by Joanna Horton as Hannah, his girlfriend
who wants her education and does not want this war in her head. David Kennedy
is also great as her father figure, Lenny.

Some of the characters are slightly underwritten; Luke
Norris delivers an emotive performance as Dan – the best friend who is anti
war, but the character’s only purpose seems is to be as a binary opposite, on
which to frame an argument. Two performers, Simon Harrison and Sandy Foster though, do bring much needed light relief as Steve
& Clare the want-for-nothing loyal couple from hell.

Maria Aberg keeps the tension flowing and during the battle scenes you do feel a sense of urgency and sheer panic, despite
the fact that often the message is being delivered in several scenes. This is because Williams relies too heavily on soap
opera techniques to raise a reaction from his audience. So much so, that many
of the younger audience members on the night I attended gasped and mocked
characters openly, as if they were watching television at home.

But Days Of Significance has a powerful story to tell and any faults in the
script are carried home and dry by this excellent cast, leading to a gripping conclusion
that certainly leaves you talking.