The idea of finding some humanity behind a man who is down in history as one of the most divisive figures to emerge from 20th century British politics is intriguing. Conservative MP J. Enoch Powell made a racially offensive speech in Birmingham in 1968 that became known as the ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech. Acclaimed playwright Oliver Michell has set out to find out what lay behind the hard and unsympathetic views that formed his character. The result is The Tulip Tree.
Already a university professor by the age of 25, Powell, a former Intelligence officer, linguist and poet was hailed as one of the most gifted men of his generation. However, in spite of his vast intellect, this sorry man looks to be laden with overwhelming seriousness and is shown not to know how to be happy. Seemingly an outsider in every area of his life, he developed ideas beyond reality that included his relationship with a woman he fell in love with. His love was deluded – only real in his imagination and not translated to the real world. A gift of a Greek academic tome is hardly going to set a girl’s heart a-flutter.
Mitchell’s play shows Powell’s unconscious awkwardness in a new social sphere where he is described behind his back as “Mr Pooter (the main character in the 19th century novel Diary of a Nobody … [with the] vowel sounds of a lance corporal…”. His bookishness sits ill with hunting shooting boorishness yet he is shielded from the cruel snobbery by his own lack of sensitivity. His longing for wholeness, and bewilderment at being rejected over a drinker and bawdy singer is tragic on a human level. Powell chose the flowerless tulip tree to symbolise in a poem his perceived lost love.
The silences on stage to allow costume changes that in a film might have added poignancy just seemed like empty moments to contemplate a dead tree. The play is set among the establishment class where real human values are masked behind calculated cold formality which may account for it failing to pluck the heartstrings as Powell is shown so cruelly plucking the rare blossom from the tulip tree. The play is set in another time and so is its style. This talented company is barking up a blighted tree with this worthy but old fashioned play.
Aug 1st-2nd, 4th-23rd (no show 17th)
4.05pm
Tickets: £8.00(£6.50); £10 (£8.50)