An Actor's Lament @ Assembly

As a critic, one suspects it would be very easy to be offended by Berkoff’s latest comedy, seeing as he drops in many scathing and vitriolic remarks about critics and their lack of intelligence. Nonetheless, being insulted by a stereotype - especially when it is presented as part of a greatly ironic play about an actor’s life - would be of use to no one. 

One supposes Steven Berkoff would find little use for any star rating this magazine could give; and indeed, what star rating would be fair to an actor and creator of work like him? To give the show stars at all might be insulting to the man himself, since a five star review might imply playing to his ego, while a one star review might reflect this reviewer's hurt pride.

An Actor’s Lament is described as a comedy, yet it brings to light questions about actors and their fluid sense of identity, and also touches on various interpretations of the significance of theatre. While Berkoff might not appreciate the comparison, this piece seems greatly reminiscent of Sunset Boulevard; the film from 1950 struggling with the disillusionment with the actor’s lifestyle, and the egos involved. It begs the question, who are actors really, after they put down their masks and leave the stage? 

There seems no easy path to discussing An Actor’s Lament. It is ironic and sarcastic, and also reflects the tension between the various parts of the performance industry. There is a deep hatred for critics, a bizarre detachment for TV actors who try to make it on the stage yet have no luck as they don’t know how to deal with a live audience, and of course the issues between the playwright, the director, and the actors. So, not a five star show, but neither is it a one-star show. It resides somewhere in the middle of these two poles.