Review | Breaking The Wall, examining East Germany's communist past, at The Spring in Havant: 'Mollett’s play should be more widely known'

Mollett’s play – an economic, tight three-hander – is worthy of note and should be more widely known.

It revolves around Hagen, an East German citizen now living in England where he maintains a farm on behalf of its owner. His daughter returns from a visit to a now-united Germany bringing with her a new lover who triggers something in Hagen – a wave of negativity – and the play explores his subsequent actions in light of his past experiences, the secrets he’s kept and his daughter’s changing attitude to her father.

Roger Niven as Hagen gives a taut performance. In the flashback interrogation-scenes we – like his interrogator – can’t tell truth from fantasy. It’s a performance steeped in distrust and fear which motivates his every action in the play. Good work.

Erin Offord as daughter Rosa is self-assured and convincingly prepared to turn her back on her father in support of her misunderstood and mistrusted lover.

SEE ALSO: Ian McKellen and John Bishop star in Mother Goose at Chichester Festival Theatre – reviewed

James Andrews in the dual roles of both Julius – Rosa’s new boyfriend – and the Stasi interrogator in the flashback scenes – plays both roles identically. This is no criticism of Andrews; it’s exactly what’s required. Can we trust Julius, as Rosa clearly does, or is he the treacherous, murderous agent Hagen suspects him to be? The blandness of both characters (again – no criticism of the writing or the performance intended) works beautifully; it confuses, it bewilders, it misleads. It also means that when Andrews has a throwaway comedy line, it works beautifully.

Directorially it could, perhaps, have moved further up and down the emotional scale and on occasions it becomes ploddy; more attack could shift this up a gear. Some thought should be given to the scene where Hagen attacks Julius, too. On opening night this was simply not convincing.

But – again – Bench are bringing something unknown to local audiences – and that’s always to be applauded. Support it if you can.