In Juniper Blood, Mike Bartlett explores a profound moral conundrum. By humanising this dilemma through the story of a couple's attempt to return to the land, he makes it both dramatic and comprehensible. It is a feat worthy of George Bernard Shaw at his best, and it beautifully illuminates the current human situation. Present agricultural methods are killing the planet, but at the same time they are necessary if we are to sustain Earth's present human population. The challenge is starkly exposed and the hard choices become obvious. This is theatre with a thesis, but it does not indulge in the kind of mindless didacticism that we are too often subjected to. There is no simple solution, and Bartlett's characters illustrate the various responses to this quandary. Dilettantish Ruth, convincingly played by Hattie Morahan, wants to create a sustainable "organic" farm, but in reality this is only an option for the few, very much representing the notions of a liberal economic elite. Her enigmatic partner Lip, brilliantly interpreted by Sam Troughton, comes to a more radical realisation. Saving the planet means returning to the land and eschewing all the "benefits" that science has brought. He is prepared to forego both the convenience of technology and the advantages of modern medicine to restore the balance of nature. Offering a third option is the student, Femi, played by Terique Jarrett. He maintains that the problem caused by man might eventually be solved through human ingenuity. It is an optimism for which there seems to be little evidence. Rounding out this strong cast is Jonathan Slinger, who plays Tony, a pragmatist who represents the current agricultural paradigm. He lives in the present and is focussed on personal emotional fulfilment. There is also Milly, Ruth's rebellious step-child, played by Nadia Parkes. She pierces her stepmother’s pretensions but, when briefly drawn to Lip’s back-to-basics ethos, she becomes merely the opposite side of Ruth’s superficiality. Director James Macdonald deserves credit for drawing some first-rate performances from all of the cast and for pacing the piece with finesse. He actually gives sufficient time for the ideas of this very thoughtful work to settle in. Anyone who enjoys powerful, intellectually engaging theatre needs to put Juniper Blood on their must-see list.
Rated: ★★★★★
Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Marc Brenner
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