Trueman and the Arsonists – The Roundhouse Studio

The scene is set by Truman himself played by Adam Owers, sitting in his living room, smoking verbalising his angst and confusion at the constant fires burning outside his window. All across the city fires are burning, as The Arsonists infiltrate homes of the wealthy and establishments of decadent luxury. It’s a plague, “The Arsonists are burning down our homes”, and there is confusion, “why are they doing this”.         

Truman is smart and he can recognise an Arsonist from a distance, he is smug and reassures his wife Bobsy (Nadine Ivy Barr) there is nothing to fear. He is finds himself in a situation where he takes in a stranger, Joe Smith played by the funny, assertive (Tommy Oldroyd) who turns up at his home wanting a bed for the night, he is offered food, wine and made to feel quite at home by Truman and his wife. Joe persuades Truman to take him in where he is taken to the attic. Joe invites ‘Moll’ Ironside (Angela Jones) a waiter friend who he met in prison. From here the plot thickens as all their relationships unfolds and the reality as to who Joe and Ironside really are, is slowly revealed.  

Truman convinces himself and his wife that these two strangers are far too polite to be even considered as The Arsonists. Why would they be they are becoming friends “we are all humans” together, “we are friends”. No need for suspicion, even when Truman observes the strangers filling his attic with barrels of petrol, he appears to be oblivious or is he, when Ironside asks him to assist in measuring the fuse wire.   

The music is provided by the cast and a two-piece band which adds a flavour of diverse content to the play interjected with songs depicting the current state of the turmoil and anarchic actions of The Arsonists and Truman’s self-defying behaviour. This play teases with the conscience and the morality of wealth, the class system and the need for justice. Truman is naïve, depicts lethargy as he invites the arsonists into his home and embarks on befriending and entertaining the complete strangers. A thread throughout is Max Frisch’s target to portray a selfish businessman who sends an employee to a lonely death, then, like so many respectable citizens in Germany during the 1930s, turns his back on a threat to society.

A play full of wielding twists and turns which switched from the characters.

inter relationships in the current moment, to the bewitching reminder of the death of his employee Mr Waites, a poignant point, to the anarchy of The Arsonists purpose. Was Truman tricked or was he naively complicit when assisting The Arsonists to full fill their mission, left some of the audience somewhat confused. It lacked some clarity and depth as to ‘why’ all this came about in the first place, an introduction for the audience unfamiliar with the narrative context may have been useful. However, this does not detract that Truman and The Arsonists is engaging and quite entertaining, whilst being a thought provoking play. I agree it could be the epilogue to the play that has been lopped off by Alistair Beaton, never the less a good play and a professional stellar performance by the cast.

Reviewer: Michelle Knight

Reviewed: 24^th October 2023

North West End UK Rating: