"Duck Variations" by David Mamet

BT Production, Tuesday 29th April 2002 - reviewed by Henrietta Stackpole

'Duck Variations' is brought to the Burton Taylor this week by two gifted actors, who rely upon their skill and not excessive props. They first appear to the music of 'It's all too beautiful' and dress themselves deliberately before proceeding to the park bench before the audience, a habit which they return to and vary after each short scene's break. Such pauses in the play heighten the feel of a ponderous, leisurely stroll around the park, and the green lighting, occasional music, and, (indeed) duck sounds aid the creation of the outdoor park atmosphere. However, the audience soon notices that the discussions between the two friends are more than mere observations about ducks.

Daniel Harkin's Emil Varec was a grouchily wistful old man, grudging the more philosophical thought processes of his friend, George S. Aronowitz, the more passionate and feisty of the two old men. Robert Wells demonstrated this passion particularly well during the scene in which his character portrays the duck's 'Law of Flying', where he uses his umbrella effectively like a gun as he depicts the shooting down of a duck, and the pair reach their most poignant struggle of the play, as the tension between the characters rises, their normally comic interchange transforming into a pathetic interpretation. It is doubly moving when similar situations in previous scenes are recalled, such as when Varec ignores Aronowitz's attempt at a discussion because he is busy perusing 'USA Today', and then remorsefully apologises to his offended and sulking friend. Harkin's comic timing is manifest throughout the play, as is Wells' presence and persona, which swells the stage when he sweeps across it.

The one fault in the play was, disappointingly, glaringly obvious for an otherwise high-quality production. A woman comes to eat her lunch on the park bench at one stage, and although she looks like she is probably a terrific actress, the male leads blocked her completely from view as they gawped at her for comic effect. Perhaps they could try peering over her shoulder next time, or at least standing at an angle so that the audience can partially see her expression.

However, the production is extremely good overall, both humorous and poignant, and well-worth seeing - especially for those who like variations in their ducks.