The English Game review

4:40pm Monday 16th June 2008

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The English Game at Malvern Theatres is a play about an amateur cricket team and a match on a sunny sunday afternoon. It sounds idyllic but the reality doesn't quite match the ideal. A mixed bunch the players have little in common other than cricket and along with good natured banter and bickering there are obvious racial and political tensions which escalate as the hot afternoon wears on. The characters are in many ways stereotypes, Reg, the white, working class racist for example, but they are recognisably real none the less.The team is virtually a representation of modern British society, a mix of skin colours, religions and political attitudes that don't always sit comfortably together. The play is entertaining, even if, like me, you have no interest in cricket, and there are some really funny lines. But, somehow, despite the conversational script, the play seemed forced and contrived. I found the first half a little slow but the pace picked up after the interval and I found the characters became more interesting, particularly the Will, the team captain, whose disillusionment with life and British society is hinted at earlier in the play.

The English Game reflects current concerns in the media about multiculturalism, immigration and terrorism and the characters express commmonly held, if not always palatble, views. The play has some great moments but the script never quite manages to be as funny as it could be. The audience, however, laughed a lot and seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Perhaps you do need to be a cricket fan to really appreciate it.