Landscape with weapon

[kelda holmes]

I thought Landscape with Weapon written by Joe Penhall was funny, moving, intelligent and very topical. Each element of the production from the characterisation through to the staging and dialogue kept reinforcing the complexity of the subject. The subject being weapons and the way in which they can ultimately render people even more powerless. So although the protagonist has the vision to create a sophisticated new weapon his fear of the damage it can inflict in the wrong hands starts to destroy him.



The joy of this play was the way in which the gravity of this highly charged subject matter was counterbalanced by the funny and touching central relationship between the protagonist and his brother. Here we are privy to the exploration of sibling rivalry and the protection of emotional territory on a more personal level. At times the characters seem absurdly childish and unable to deal with the more adult demands of having children, mortgages and school fees. But, I think this sense of inadequacy and confusion is what makes the play so accessible. It's easier to identify with characters that don't necessarily know more than the audience about what the right thing to do is.



The staging is also deceptively powerful. By dividing the audience either side of the stage the illusion was created of all the characters being under surveillance. At one point I did feel like I was watching a theatrical version of "Question Time". However, I thing the rich symbolism of the play and the authenticity of the central relationship between the brothers' prevents it from being overly didactic.



The Cast of four are uniformly excellent and carry the audience with confidance and sensitivity. Go see it



Landscape with Weapon is currently showing at the Cottoesloe Theatre