'Encounter' Above The Stag Theatre *****

The oppression of homosexuality affected the lives of many gay men until homosexuality became legalised in the United Kingdom in 1967, yet how can the kinship between a doctor and a stationmaster remain undetected without arousing suspicion in a society that disdained men fancying other men? Above The Stag Theatre’s current production of Phil Willmott’s new play, ‘Encounter’ is with no strings attached a penetrating understanding of how Noel Coward and David Lean’s film, ‘Brief Encounter’ could have happened, in addition the acting is sensational.

‘Encounter’ is set predominantly in 1947, Vauxhall, London, but at first we’re transported to contemporary times where a gay couple find a book of memoirs of ideas for a film about the tale of two men who could never open up freely about their feelings for each other. Back to 1947 where we are accustomed with Dr Lawrence Marsh who’s conducting an examination of stationmaster, Arthur Hollis, but this encounter develops into something that will change their lives forever. At Vauxhall station where Arthur works, he sees Dr Lawrence sitting on a bench awaiting the train to his home in Surbiton where he says hello and Dr Lawrence responds too. Both Dr Lawrence and Arthur are married but Arthur’s marriage is not going very well as they have lost their daughter due to illness, on the other hand, Dr Lawrence is “supposedly” happy with this wife, Sarah Marsh, but is their marriage really that stable as Dr Lawrence is constantly working?  Over the course of the performance, Dr Lawrence and Arthur have secret rendezvous’ with one another in such locations as a cinema. Their meetings are getting noticed by certain people; i.e. Rev Richard Craven so their plan to go to a music concert at the Royal Albert Hall has to remain undisclosed. When Dr Lawrence fails to show up to go to his and Arthur’s trip to the Royal Albert Hall, Arthur is indeed upset by this, and newspaper seller, Mavis Madden seems to observe this upset. Dr Lawrence apologises to Arthur for this and when they have their very first sexual experience in a moving moment with one another at the church vestry they are interrupted by Rev Richard Craven who is miffed by this as Arthur is married.  The two walk to the park where they are caught kissing by PC Tom Blake and disappointingly Dr Lawrence claims that he is being harassed by Arthur. For being a coward he tries to write a note for Arthur saying sorry for his actions. Dr Lawrence is given a job to Germany where he is allowed to take his wife and son, as soon as he informs Arthur that he will not be able to see him again this does not make Arthur happy whatsoever. When they say goodbye for the final time, Arthur is so emotional that he decides to take his own life by jumping in front of the coming train as he doesn’t want his life without Dr Lawrence. At the finale, we go back to contemporary times where the modern versions of Lawrence and Arthur are about to go out for the evening, Lawrence says that they should hold hands as a way to depict the changes that have been made for accepting homosexuality.  Willmott’s narrative is resplendent as his analysis and perception of Coward and Lean’s film has shown how times have changed in Britain and what could have been materialised if homosexuality was legal in the 1940’s in such a dextrous way. 

One found the performances by the company of, ‘Encounter’ to be beautifully characterised through grand and impelling scenes between the two lead characters, Dr Lawrence Marsh and Arthur Hollis. Adam Lilley is splendorous as Dr Lawrence Marsh; especially how his confused mentality for what his sexuality is affects the relationship how has with his wife, Sarah and the person who he knows is his real soulmate, Arthur, and more when he embraces Arthur is such a tear-jerking moment indeed as we know it is never meant to be. Alexander Hueston is formidable as stationmaster, Arthur Hollis; essentially where he tries to make the moment where Arthur and Dr Lawrence are about to consummate their love for one another the most romantic experience ever, furthermore the segment where he breaks down as Dr Lawrence says goodbye to him for the final time conveys how much he really loves him and that he may never find a man like him again. Christopher Hines is exhilarating as both PC Tom Blake and Rev Richard Craven; specifically where as Rev Richard Craven he presents a quite freaky person who in actual fact turns out to be gay himself but as a minister and with his religious position he knows the power of secrecy and that people will turn against him. Penelope Day is wonderful as both Sarah Marsh and Mavis Madden; mainly as Mavis Madden she emulates the humour of the show as she is quite an eccentric individual who is funny, moreover, as Sarah Marsh we see what the job her husband does makes her worried of what he may be up to without notifying her of his whereabouts.  

Phil Willmott’s direction is priceless here as he has created a superlative performance that captivates how homosexuality in the 1940’s was oppressed and the intolerance from certain groups of people, in addition the sensitive moments between Dr Lawrence and Arthur shows what a grand job Willmott has done to shed some light into whatCoward and Lean really wanted for ‘Brief Encounter’. David Shield’s designs are once again brilliant as he has been able to form the station, paper stall, vestry and the Marsh’s home with such panache, plus the slants in the set flats shows how imposing the persecution of being gay has caused Dr Lawrence and Arthur themselves to each other even more so. Overall, the experience of, ‘Encounter’ was a world class show that categorially makes it clear that LGBT Theatre is still essential in today’s society.