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Taking
Sides
By Ronald Harwood
The Playhouse
14 - 17 January 2004
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By
Victoria Roddam
This
challenging yet thoughtful and accessible play from the author of
The Pianist is a must-see.
Set
in Berlin during the tense period shortly after the Second World
War, Taking Sides recounts the attempts of the US Major Steve Arnold
to uncover the full degree of collaboration and collusion by Wilhelm
Furtwangler (the legendary conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic)
with the Nazi regime.
As
the play unfolds, the borders between truth and personal interpretation
become increasingly blurred, as we begin to question whose truth
can, or should prevail, and are forced to look closely at the complex
relationship between art and political reality.
Neil
Pearson (Drop the Dead Donkey; Bridget Jones' Diary) turns in a
virtuoso, gut-busting performance as the ebullient yet deeply traumatised
Arnold, while acclaimed stage and screen actor Julian Glover delivers
a tautly passionate rendition of the troubled Furtwangler.
Solid
support comes from fellow cast-members Ruth Grey, Tom Harper, John
McEnery and Tanya Ronder, while director Deborah Bruce balances
moments of levity and deep despair with an assured touch.
As
an intriguing mixture of badinage and profound human emotion, this
is not only a moving depiction of post-war realities, but also a
testament to the enduringly difficult conundrums posed by matters
of artistic integrity, truth and self-sacrifice.
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