Before I comment on the acting
prowess of Rafe Spall, I need to pay
tribute to his vocal chords. They are
stretched to capacity in his tour de force performance as Michael in Clint Dyer and Roy Williams’s new play The
Death of England at The Dorfman. Alone on a giant St George flag, designed by Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey and Ultz, Spall never lets up. When not yelling, sobbing, snorting, or
babbling, he takes on the raspy voice of his late father or transforms into the
Jamaican mother of his best friend, Delroy. This is a 100 minute monologue that
takes no prisoners.
Michael’s father, a racist East End
flower seller who voted to leave the EU, has just died. His death occurred in the pub whilst watching
England’s defeat to Croatia in the 2018 World Cup. Rather an apt way to go, seeing as how his
main passion was football or at least West Ham United. And now Michael has to confront his dad’s
death as well as his feelings towards him and towards himself. For Michael has a very strong sense of
self-loathing, not helped by the antagonism from his mother, sister and dear
old dad. Except he’s not sure if his dad
was ever dear, his feelings for him veering from love to hate simultaneously. Likewise his death elicits anger and sadness
in equal measure.
Michael deals with his loss and
bewilderment at what to do next, all the while trying to process his inner
feelings, by going on an uncontrollable rant.
However, there are quiet moments when this up for a laugh Essex boy
tones down his toxic masculinity.
Amongst the props hidden in nooks and crannies around the set are
biscuits, which he hands out to audience members, getting them onside by showing
he’s an alright bloke. But we’re aware
that this wild, unfiltered, troubled soul could lose it at any minute. He keeps us all on our toes.
Clint Dyer, the playwright,
also directs and he is unflinching in highlighting contemporary racism and
political unrest within our current fractured nation. Luckily he also imbues
the piece with some sentiment and the phone recording of the dead man’s speech
to Michael is very moving.
There are times when Death of England appears to lose its
way a little. But, no matter, the magnificent Spall ensures we don’t lose ours
and he keeps us engrossed until the end.
