Fault Lines

There is more to theatre in London than the West End. This play was in the tiny downstairs theatre at Hampstead - I guess the capacity is only a hundred. It was very justly, sold out. Fault Lines is a new comedy set in a the office of a fund-raising charity the day after the office Christmas party, with an earthquake in Pakistan sending them into a frenzy, not just to help, but to beat every other charity to help. The upshot is that in their haste they find they have directed their cash to a member of the Taliban rather than a supplier of emergency tents. It is very funny, but it also makes the more serious points about how hubris can lead to unintended consequences, and how tempting it is to cover things up when they go wrong, but that only makes it worse. Political correctness also gets a fair battering. Like the exchange where the senior worker warns the intern against his language by referring to an ex-worker who had used the C-word. "What, c-u-n-t?" asks the young lad. "No, worse, "Coloured."" Was he sacked?" "No, worse. You don't want to be sent on training day...."

This was an excellent start to my New theatre Year - 2nd January and seen a stonking play for very little money. Result.