Visually spectacular (From Western Telegraph)

Visually spectacular

Theatre review: The Third Man, Torch Theatre, March 3rd

Set in post-war Vienna, this stylish thriller is immaculately staged with a folding white building offset by a dark background indicative of the loners and misfits that populate the city split as it is along geo-political lines.

Perfect use of lighting, scenography and projections emphasised slick performances by a formidable cast and an evocative musical score was the cherry on the cake.

Andrew Forbes stole the show as the charismatic, if slightly jaded, Colonel Calloway, whereas Anthony Gabriel, who played Rollo Martins, simply had too much to do in a limited space of time.

What should have been the two climatic moments of the play; the reappearance of Harry Lime and Martins' clumsy pass at Anna Schmidt; both passed by with little suspense and tension.

That said, the plot was generally well delivered.

Throughout most of the play the audience are left guessing as to Martins' paranoia, the reliability of witnesses and the identity of a mythical third man.

The final showdown and dramatic chase through the sewers clearly don't easily lend themselves to the stage and director Jonathan Holloway should be congratulated on his imaginative delivery; especially having Martin fire his murderous shot directly at the audience.

My overriding thought when leaving the theatre, was that I was impressed with the show but even more impressed with Holloway's courageous attempt to follow in the footsteps of Graham Greene's classic text and Carol Reed's acclaimed film production starring Orson Welles.