The Faith Machine, Alexi Kaye Campbell, dir Jamie Lloyd, Hayley Atwell, Ian McDiarmid, Jude Akuwudike, Ken Stoller
Big. Big ideas, big themes, big execution. Personal faith in a secular world twisted by politics, capitalism and out-moded ideology; the backdrop is the church schism over homosexuality, 9/11, Afghanistan and human laboratories for drugs testing. The Faith Machine set over three acts switches from 2001, 1998, 2006, 2001, 2010 and 2011. Yet structurally Campbell knows exactly what he’s doing. He leaves nothing to chance as lines, ideas recur right the way through to the end. Sophie gives Tom an ultimatum and his choice impacts on them both. Sophie’s father Edward, a bishop, is quitting the church. Edward’s dilemma is played out in an agonising, yet touching portrayal, of mortal decay by Ian McDiarmid. Yet there is a practical realism which runs through this play, which off-sets the polemics and diffused energy of some of the characters, which is refreshing; keeping faith, for all of us, is attainable. And there is plenty of light and shade with a winningly off-beat performance by Bronagh Gallagher as Edward’s housekeeper. The Faith Machine is bold, daring, in its concept and design......
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