Laden with quips and schtick
Many in the UK are not aware of Jeremy Sweet’s writing – A playwright, journalist and theatre historian whose work dates back to the 1980’s. It was only last year that he had his first UK premier with his play Kunstler. Now, The Value of Names, possibly his most produced piece, comes across the pond in a Hint of Lime Productions for another UK premiere, writes Christopher Peacock.
The Value of Names is a three-hander set on the patio of former actor Benny Silverman’s Californian ocean view house. Benny’s daughter Norma is following in her father’s shoes and forging a career on the stage. Something Benny doesn’t like the idea of, but having grown apart from her since his divorce, he cannot influence her as much as he would like. When Norma’s latest play that she is to be in needs a new director, the production turns to an old hand. That old hand is Leo, who pays Norma and Benny a visit. Tensions are high as Benny and Leo have history. History that goes back to the 1940s and a much darker time in Hollywood, especially for those supposed communist sympathisers.
Benny and Leo are both East Coast Jewish entertainers, so, naturally, Sweet’s script is laden with quips and schtick, which during the stronger parts of his performance Jeremy Kareken as Benny delivers with aplomb. Tim Hardy playing Leo did a fine job in not pulling his punches in the long exchanges with Benny. However, with a script so dense and incredibly light of action, the middle third of the play drags, especially when the odd line is dropped or stumbled over. Unfortunately that sucks the energy out of the piece and the scenes plod on crying out for a change of pace. Katherine Lyle as Norma would be the pick of the performances; her stage handling and in the moments of direct address was at ease, and you wished for her role to be bigger.
With The Value of Names, Jeremy Sweet wants to tackle a range of topics, but sticking with the political and entertainment history is where its strength lies as the arguments made by Benny and Leo are compelling, if a little laborious. With the play in full flow and everybody hitting their marks and firing their lines off at pace, then there would be more to be had and certainly more laughs.
The White Bear Theatre, 138 Kennington Park Road,
London, SE11 4DJ until 1st March. Booking and full details:
https://www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk/whatson/the-value-of-names
