This is a new play by Fraser Grace, based upon a short story written by Andrey Platanov in 1936, and tells the story of Nikita Firsov, a soldier returning from the Russian Civil War in 1921. It is a portrayal of what we would now call the effects of battlefield PTSD, but which at that time was not specifically recognised, and also shows the grim reality of life for the rural peasantry in Russia at this time of famine and political upheaval.
The pace of the play mirrors the harshness of the prevailing conditions. It is slow-moving, with many pauses, and everything about the production contributed to depicting the dreariness and struggle of the life of the characters. The acting was universally excellent. Jesse Rutherford as the returning soldier, Nikita, and Bess Roche as the girl to whom he returns, made a believable couple as both struggled to deal with his changed personality and battled to make a new life together under the most difficult of conditions. They were very well supported by the other three members of the cast: Jeremy Killick, Caroline Rippin and Patrick Morris, who doubled as the other characters.
The set consisted only of wooden crates and adapted wooden pallets, which were moved by the cast to form the various settings required by the script. Watching the cast elegantly move the wooden pieces into place between the scenes was part of the fascination of the production.
Once again, Director Paul Bourne took the brave decision not to hurry the scene changes, but to maintain the overall tenor of the play. The attention to detail was impressive. The few props used were believably of the period, including wooden tools and kitchen implements. The same attention to detail had been paid to the costumes, which excellently reflected the dire poverty of the characters. I was particularly impressed by the footwear, which showed signs of age and wear. Russian music played at appropriate points.
This is a very fine piece of theatre, in the tradition of Russian drama, which is well worth seeing if you are interested in serious drama rather than a light night out. Be aware, however, that while the Finborough Theatre is open and welcoming, the Finborough Arms is closed for renovation.
Playing until 11th June, https://finboroughtheatre.co.uk/production/bliss/
Reviewer: Paul Ackroyd
Reviewed: 19th May 2022
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★