Pressure @ King's Theatre, Edinburgh
David Haig excels in this surprisingly gripping and involving exposition of the weather conditions in the days before the D-Day landings
A play about the weather may not sound like the most thrilling prospect, even if it does occur during one of the most significant times in British history. And at the top, Pressure – David Haig’s interpretation of Dr James Stagg, the Scottish scientific forecaster brought in to predict the conditions for the D-Day landings – doesn’t promise much other than some light humour and joyous geekiness. But, as the piece progresses, the pressure builds in more ways than one.
This isn’t merely a commercial vehicle for a recognisable and lauded star of TV, film and theatre, but a high-quality, fascinating piece of theatre. Haig’s script is well-written and engrossing, with momentum and pathos, and he’s utterly convincing as Stagg: stubborn, pessimistic, lovable, nerdy and brilliant.
Another shining light in the production is Laura Rogers, who encapsulates the essence of the hardy British wartime woman. She plays Kay Summersby, the stiff-upper-lip, organised, well-mannered and practical lieutenant who shares an office with Stagg, much to his initial annoyance.
Both Stagg and Summersby are engaging, rounded characters through whom we experience not only the immediacy and gravity of the big picture situation, but their personal emotional journeys too. These interactions are funny, touching and compelling, and make for contrast with the heightened moments of suspense and military and scientific debate.
Malcolm Sinclair as General Eisenhower is less believable, slightly two-dimensional and not helped by some overly long football metaphors and monologues which seem implausibly theatrical in an otherwise realistic play. While the script is excellent in the main, there are sections like these that could benefit from some pruning. Colonel Krick (Philip Cairns) too comes across as somewhat stereotypical, but happily the rest of the cast is strong, enveloping us into Pressure's world.
John Dove's production takes on a special geographical significance here, garnering some especially hearty laughs from an Edinburgh audience who lap it up: there’s many witty lines about the uniquely British – often specifically Scottish – weather and references to Stagg’s hometown of Dalkeith and surrounding areas. Whether you’re from the area or not though, the play has much to commend it. Pressure’s portrayal of a small but significant period of time in modern history is a very good story, very well told.
King's Theatre, Edinburgh, until 17 Feb