This was a .great night of theatre brought to us by two of Australia’s theatrical legends.
The scenario. In 1944 at the Hotel Maurice, the Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling and the German General Dietrich von Cholitz meet in a life and death situation for the city of Paris. On abandoning Paris, Hitler has ordered its destruction. Raoul has one night to persuade the General to leave the landmark city standing.
What we see is a battle of wills between the two men. We feel every bit of the battle and the shifts that so delicately take place. At first there seems little chance for Nordling to win the General and on more than one occasion he is shown the door yet somehow he always manages to come back. Thankfully, in the end, he wins the General over and Paris is saved.
John Bell directs the play with his wife Anna Volska as the Assistant Director, adding another set of eyes on the production.
John Bell and John Gaden give wonderful performances in the lead roles . Playing the supporting roles are James Lugton who plays the General’s principal Engineering Officer, Genevieve Lemon is the General’s ardent secretary Frau Mayer. and Joseph Raggatt plays staffer Hans Brensdorf.
Michael Scott-Mitchell’s set design is brilliant with the back wall of the stage featuring a street map of Paris showing all of its main attractions. The costumes by Genevieve Graham are apt. Nate Edmondson’s soundscape depicts the sounds of battle,. Matt Cox’s lighting design is sharp and atmospheric.
Verdict. No need to be diplomatic here. This production comes strongly recommended. Cyril Gely’s play, in a translation and adaptation by Julie Rose, DIPLOMACY is playing the Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli until 13th July, 2019.
Featured image-John Bell and John Gaden in ‘Diplomacy’ at the Ensemble Theatre. Pic by Prudence Upton.