The Handyman

Synopsis

On an idyllic summer's day at their Sussex home, Julian and Cressida Field are enjoying the serenity of the countryside, while Romka their aged handyman goes about his chores. For more than fifty years, he has worked for the family, living in a flat above the garage and doing odd jobs in the house and garden. But the peace of their afternoon is shattered by the arrival of two detectives from the War Crimes Squad, Scotland Yard. Could Romka be the man they are looking for?

Our Review:

Roz Carter - 25 September 2012

The phrase “thought provoking” is bandied about far too frequently when describing theatre but that’s exactly what The Handyman is; thought provoking. Written by Ronald Harwood and produced by the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, The Handyman tackles the themes of truth, justice and memory in a respectful, yet gripping way.

It’s set in a Sussex garden. Cressida and Julian Field (played by Caroline Langrishe and Adrian Lukis) find their comfortable, middle-class world ripped apart when two police officers investigating war crimes turn up to accuse their life-long handyman Roman Kozachenk (Timothy West) of committing an atrocity during World War II.

The minimal set allows the actors to focus on the difficult subject matter but Sean Cavanagh’s powerful use of projections is startling and adds gravitas to the production. Vanessa Redgrave and Steven Berkoff are featured in these, giving haunting performances that are reminisc...

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Latest User Review

Alan Fitzgerald - 9 October 2012:

This is the worst play by Ronald Harwood. It was somewhat artificial in production; Adrian Lukis over acted throughout; it was slow and boring, and compared to Harwood's Taking Sides,which was excellent, this play should never have got to the stage. ...

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