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The fighter still remains The Pyramid Texts
Birmingham Rep Door
**** THE Pyramid Texts is a monologue which
explores the deepest emotions of the human mind with one with an
integral part to play, fear. In this premier written with the moving voice of
writer Geoff Thompson and performed by Christopher Fairbank, (Pictured)
we are exposed to the lengths that people are prepared to take to hide
the emotions they truly feel in order to never reveal the secrets of
their feelings. The man we are introduced to is a boxer. With
almost a lifetime of experience and an overwhelming passion for the
sport, Thompson gives us a narrative to reveal the vulnerability of the
human heart. He shows an element of the basic human conflicts of the
mind. The need to be a ‘warrior’, showing those about us how unaffected
we are by the world around us, while fighting the inner fear is a
concept that many can relate to on a daily basis. The award winning writer presents us with an
awe-inspiring intensity through his piece. He has created a character
who everyone knows. The man Thompson beautifully reveals the wrenching
secrets that the man holds inside. The emotions that people rarely see
of the fear-free person who is so familiar to them. As the main topic
from his work, Thompson explores the lengths that people will go to
avoid looking fear in the eye. Cradled within an explosive Father-Son
relationship, there is a tragic tale combined with a hint of
spirituality. The work is charged with impeccable research.
Through the boxer, we hear the stories of the greatest fighters in time
woven into a personal lamentation. With RADA trained Christopher
Fairbank’s performance, the passion for the sport transcends the whole
of the space. Within his spectacular performance of the
troubled father, we see a gripping account of the experienced boxer.
First, leading a life dedicated to the ring, secondly and most
importantly, we see what lies beneath the hard exterior of his
character. Fairbank portrays a bereaved character full of
pride, regret, nostalgia and above all, fear, managing to capture
heart-clenching emotions from start to finish a delight to watch. He manages transitions of character and writing
with ease. We see him at first a hardy, unmoved fighter who then
transforms into the vulnerable and desperate mortal who has finally let
what has been wrapped up inside come out into the open. We find later that the monologue is addressed to
his son. He sits in front of a video camera for the entirety of the play
and delivers his monologue for the audience, but most importantly, his
son. All elements worked together to create a unique
and raw harmony. The direction of Michael Vale was simple and did not
was a testament to Fairbank’s superlative talent. Fairbank’s set was a
stool and a punch bag in the background, purely for aesthetic purposes.
It would have been a positive to see some physical movement within the
direction, as the monologue was performed entirely in one sitting, which
sometimes was difficult to tune in to at times. This production presents a trio of fantastic
writing, performance and direction. Each element comes together to show
true human emotion in an extraordinarily vulnerable manner. It is a
thought provoking piece and lets the audience think about their deepest
fears, and how we will fight through it ourselves. To 30-05-15 Elizabeth Halpin
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is a boxer, now grown and retired, who knows no fear and is afraid of
nothing.