Harriet Joyce enjoys Incognito Theatre’s production of Terence Rattigan’s wartime play

A group of actors on stage — The cast of Flare Path – (Credit – Incognito Theatre)

Hitting the stage just in time for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Incognito Theatre celebrated with a sell out run of their amateur production of Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path.

Based on the playwright’s own experiences in the RAF the play, first performed in 1942, centres around the emotional turmoil of the second world war and former actress Patricia Graham’s love triangle with pilot Teddy Graham and Hollywood idol Peter Kyle.

The production at the Friern Barnet theatre featured a mixture of new and returning faces. Margaret Johnson, who has previously worked as a costume designer for Incognito’s A Streetcar Named Desire, showed the opposition between the characters especially in terms of class.

Ciara Healy, who joined Incognito Theatre this year, marked her return from her long break from acting with the role glamorous Patricia Graham: appearing in a green floral dress, blue lids and rouged cheeks.

Johnson chose this makeup to appear stark against the more muted tones seen on launder Maudie, played by Julianne Mullen, who most recently starred as Blanche in Streetcar, and barmaid Doris, played by Alexandra Charalambous, who most recently starred as Judy in Home, I’m Darling.

The costume’s colour symbolism was also heavily anchored by performance, Patricia’s received pronunciation against Doris’ cockney accent helped represent class differences. Peter Kyle, played by David Parson, wore green, an extension of the envy already apparent in his scornful expression.

Whilst Jordan Dickson’s debut as Teddy Graham saw him in a white turtleneck, a white bandaged arm and kneeling to the ground as he pleads with his wife. The costume and use of levels paired together was a powerful juxtaposition from the previous act where he had been kitted in a blue jumpsuit, symbolising that opening up about his fears came at the cost of surrendering his pride.

While Patricia awaits his return in the second act, the blue hues remain consistent in the lighting and express her lingering worry. Chris Mason, who most recently worked as a lighting designer for the theatre’s production of The Revlon Girl, also utilised colour.

The window located lower centre stage helped convey a fallen aircraft through the use of amber strobes and by differing the intensity and warmth of its hues, Mason managed to showcase the passage of time through early morning to noon.

Overall, it was not only the performance of Moira Wallace, returning to the theatre as Mrs Oakes, and Harry Gunner, debuting as Percy, that helped add light-heartedness to an otherwise heavy play, but the enthusiasm of the audience on opening night that made this amateur theatre production an enjoyable one.

Find out more about Incognito Theatre at: https://www.incognitotheatre.co.uk

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