Two Plays End At The Royal Court This Week

Downstairs and Upstairs. “Drunk Enough To Say I Love You?”, starring Ty Burrell and Stephen Dillane – and “Catch”, starring Lucy Briers and Alexi Kaye Campbell. Both end on 22nd December at the Royal Court.

I spoke to a senior theatre-goer last week over lunch, and he said – in the old days – the Royal Court would put on the plays that nobody else dared put on. When reading up on the two closing plays this week, it seems like this is still part true. Only, these days, any theatre seems to be able to put on whatever they like, but it appears the Royal Court still want to contain their we put on risky plays here profile. I say bravo.

For instance, “Drunk Enough To Say I Love You?” is a 45 minutes long fractious affair between two men from opposite sides of the world. One British guy Jack (Union Jack) and one American dude called Sam (Uncle Sam). Jack is a family man, Sam is a government official. You can imagine how the interaction between these two are going to be, right? “Aggressive” and “disagreeing” are two words that come to mind.

Then we have “Catch”, that’s about the Big Brother state Britain is in now. You can’t step out to the shops without being caught on camera five times, you’re not sure if your phone calls are being listened to, if your letters are being read or if you’re under 24-Hour surveillance. And what for? Are we all criminals now, all of a sudden? Guilty until proven innocent? Nevermind those ID cards that will track your every step, every transaction… If you ever buy a porn mag or a vibrator with your credit card, the government is going to know. And will probably run a security check on you and establish whether such a pervert should be put in a test tube and studied.

So if you want to catch two plays that may make you think before embarking on your turkey dinners and Christmas puddings, catch these two.

“Catch” and “Drunk Enough To Say I Love You?” both end tomorrow at the Royal Court Theatre.