Camera Obscura by Lorenzo DeStefano

Oxford Playhouse until June 29 2002

Camera Obscura is a play based on the diaries of Arthur Crew Inman. The dictionary definition of a camera obscura is an optical illusion where the outside world is viewed upside down through a small hole. The play begins in such a fashion; a visitor enters a dark room to tell Arthur Inman her experiences, thereby bringing the outside world to light. Nothing is as it seems however: Inman is a hypochondriac, professing that sunlight makes him ill; he declares he loves his wife yet fondles young ladies who answer his ads in the newspaper for '$5 to amuse an invalid author', in front of her.

Initially the play hinges on Inman's dry humour, for example he says of his wife, "she gets all her exercise writing cheques". Later on, without being aware of it, we engage with the tortured mind of Inman. The megalomaniac nature of writing is fully explored in the life of a self-appointed chronicler of the 20th century. Inman makes a daily entry onto a tape machine next to his bed, seemingly unaware of its incriminating nature.

Jonathan Miller's direction brings out pathos in DeStefano's stylish script as we follow the ups and downs of life inside Inman's apartment. Except for his long suffering wife, the only people who enter the apartment have been paid to do so. Hence the link with reality becomes a tenuous one and there is a feeling that something has to give.

Peter Eyre, whose work includes the film Remains of the Day, plays the subtle emotions of Inman well, doing full justice to the stream-of-consciousness style of dialogue. Eyre portrays Inman both as a sensitive man and on occasions a man that admires a brute. The character views wrestling as our best link with ancient civilizations. Sandra Voe who is a familiar face from Victoria Wood's sketches, delivers spectacularly good character acting as Inman's domestic help, Rose. This is an innovative piece of work by the Almeida Theatre and their high production values run throughout the performance.

At the beginning of the play, Inman's butler leads a visitor into a dark room and points to Inman saying, "You'll see him better when your eyes adjust". As the play moves along our eyes adjust, but whether we leave the theatre with a full understanding of Inman's persona is something I'll have to get back to you on.

Lita Doolan 25/6/02