The Observer at the National Theatre

The Observer

A Cerebral Morality Tale Relevant To The Modern World

Fiona Russell, adroitly played by Anna Chancellor, is an international elections observer from Leeds. Despite her experience and personal sacrifices, she has been passed over for advancement over less qualified candidates because she is tough and difficult to read. Fiona has served all over the world in some “awful places”, as she says, but her new assignment in a fictional West African nation challenge her virtues and her values.

The equally skilled supporting cast help to take the audience through this political morality tail as Fiona’s trusted translator Daniel (Chuk Iwuji) questions her righteousness, and the British foreign civil servant who had been spying on her (James Fleet) gives her praise.
The set by Rob Howell is beautifully designed and makes an effective use of modern story telling for the stage without resorting to cheap glitz.

This cerebral and intellectual thriller by the 30 year old Matt Charmin is engaging drama driven by character and dialogue that left few in the theatre standing to their feet when the performance concluded. Not because it wasn’t an exceptional production, but because it appeared as through everyone was in his or her own head following the clear and decisive ending that left everyone unsure if Fiona had done the right thing. The Observer succeeds at taking the audience through ethical gymnastics that test Fiona’s moral dexterity.

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