REVIEW: 12:37 by Julia Pascal at Finborough Theatre until 21 December 2022

‘A Tale of Three Cities’ ★★★

In 2022, a colonial power with a military occupation force is considered the villain in the roles of occupier and occupied. Not so in this case of post- World War 2 British occupied Palestine, and this recounting of events. For example, no mention is made of the inhuman sending back to Germany, by the British army, of a shipload of barely alive Jewish concentration camp refugees, in appeasement of the Arabs, allies of Hitler. In addition, and in all its incongruity, the use of the Kol Nidre music, of the Day of Atonement, implies Jewish sins to be repented.

The dereliction of the refugees, turned away from the promised land was an element in the Jewish resistance, culminating in the bombing of British military headquarters in Jerusalem, located in a wing of the luxurious King David Hotel. This scene is graphically described and portrayed in one of the many ritualised scenes in 12.37 (the title and time of the explosion). In many such scenes, this stylised presentation veers between powerful theatricality, when used sparingly, but too frequently, a blaring attack on the material, sometimes dwarfing the intimate Finborough space. The wedding scene was dazzling in exploiting such a dramatic opportunity, but at other times the artificiality of 70’s fringe style just seemed like ramming the point home.

Essentially the tale of the lives of two brothers, Paul and Cecil, and moving within Jewish life from 1930s Dublin, then Mosley’s London, to 1940s British occupied Palestine, this epic tale of fractured families and peoples is impressive in its vision. The enormous, ambitious sweep of the story, made the scenes of realism very welcome. At other times, the tendency towards grandstanding and facing (and blasting) the gallery was a constant pity.

The play itself makes most absorbing reading, attractive in its complexity. This production boasts an ensemble of wonderfully interactive performances, expertly essaying their multiple roles, if under the heavy hand of the director. Within this, it seems a pity to single out any one performance, but Lisa O’Connor was constantly appealing in all her moods and skills.

Set and costume designer, Liberty Monroe, lighting designer Jon Stacy and sound designer, Flick Isaac-Chiltern all served the production beautifully.

Photography credit: Yaron Lapid

12:37 Written and Directed by Julia Pascal

Tuesday, 29 November - Wednesday, 21 December 2022

Finborough Theatre

Box Office: https://finboroughtheatre.co.uk/production/1237/

Cast: Ruth Lass, Lisa O'Connor, Alex Cartuson, Eoin O'Dubhghaill and Danann McAleer

Presented by Pascal Theatre Company in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre.

Reviewer:

Saul Reichlin is an actor, writer and multi-award-winning audiobook narrator. For many years he was official reviewer for Chicago Critic and remotegoat. (Both of these no longer take reviews)