Now or Later

Synopsis

Now or Later examines religion, freedom of expression and personal responsibility: Election night in the U.S., and things are looking rosy for the Democratic Party. Holed up in a hotel, watching the results flood in, are the likely President-elect, his wife, advisors and 20 year old son John Jnr. Every speech, interview and photocall has been carefully controlled and meticulously orchestrated, all leading up to this big night. At the same time controversial photos of John Jnr are gathering momentum on the internet. Whilst his father's advisors work against the clock on damage limitation, it's up to father and son to try and reach an agreement.

Our Review:

12 September 2008

It is the day of the US elections and the Democrats are heading for victory. As the results pour in through the night, a problem: the candidate’s twenty-year old gay son has become a topic of heated debate on the internet, after photographs have been posted of him dressed as Mohammed at a college party. Is he really anti-Muslim? (Of course not). Will he apologise?

American playwright Christopher Shinn’s Now or Later is a deft piece of writing, skilfully directed by Dominic Cooke, unfussily designed by Hildegard Bechtler and beautifully played by a small cast including a bullish Matthew Marsh as the Democratic President-elect, John, and a gangling, emotionally pent up Eddie Redmayne as his son, John Jr.

But in a week of Brecht and Sam Shepard in London, it does not strike me as being either very theatrical or, to be frank, all that interesting. The arguments are well expressed but deeply predictable, and the idea that a senior politician’s s...

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Latest User Review

toodle - 2 November 2008:

amazing...

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