The President Has Come To See You review, Royal Court Theatre

Georgia on rewind

The President Has Come To See You is like a TV cartoon brought to life. It's a visual feast interspersed with surrealist interjections as the self-centred but charming President of Georgia, goes on the run from the Russians. Having announced on live TV that he so fears invasion he hasn't slept in three nights, is taking Valium, has turned grey, and looks ten years older, he and his team of secretaries and spooks take to the streets seeking safe haven in the austere homes of his people.

Travelling from one beige sofa to another they encounter reality show contestants, rabid dogs in cellars and psychopaths in the woods. The President becomes steadily more paranoid and pathetic and his aggrieved staff starts to jump ship. By the time he and his driver meet a bearded man who is pregnant, anything seems possible.

Lasha Bugadze's 2011 play has all the best hallmarks of surrealist drama, but the balance is skewed. The President - a lovely performance from Paul Bhattercharjee - carries too much on his own and the 80 minute script, translated by Donald Rayfield, is insufficiently sharp and insightful. The support cast of weird and wonderful characters played by brilliant actors like Jonjo O'Neill, Siobahn Redmond, Sam Troughton and Laura Elphinstone, isn't used enough. Vicky Featherstone's production is, however, visually sumptuous, with lovely group scenes and clever scene changes.

In conclusion: My heart sank at Chloe Lamford's box set. Memories flooded in of the deadly Ai Wei Wei at Hampstead and Chimerica at The Almeida, but then it popped open and provided a wonderful backdrop that proved you don't need money or tricks to make a set earn its living, just a good eye and a great imagination.

References
Royal Court Theatre, Tickets

Royal Court Theatre,  Sloane Square, London SW1W 8AS     Run ends June 15