The Independent from London, Greater London, England • 50

22THEATFtE Paul Taylor says Yasmina Reza's latest work is funny, sad, better then Art but he seems to have watched a radio drama EYE ON FRIDAY 17 APRIL 1998 Listen, a wireless play with strings hkery marriage to an oldster, and the inanifoM disappointments of the literary life. He doesnt know he's been recognised: she has his new novel in her bag and is in a turmoil of comic indecision over the protocol and possible consequences of getting it out and reading it in front of him. The technical trick is that most of the piece is conducted as interior monologues: the drawback in a stage version is that die embarrassing constriction and the absurdly tense and still mutual watchfulness of die real-life situation are dissipated as the characters deliver their thoughts, not in voice-over but in direct-to-audience routines, and move around the stage to physicalise the relationship going on in their beads. Interesting questions are raised about such topics as the connection between a writer and his oeuvre and the land of insights (superior or mistaken) into his deeper, better self a devoted reader can have. But, despite the fastidious brooding of Gambon, who intones the name Scriabin with all the disgust of someone mentioning Scrofula, and despite Atkins' beautifully wry nostalgia for the life she might have lived, it creates an irritatingry over-abstract insubstantial world where, you feel, Godot would arrive sooner than a humble buffet trolley.

sor, The Unexpected Man wont be a licence to print money because it's a better play. But whatever edge this funny, sad 80-minute piece may have in psychology subtlety and shadings of sorrow can't compensate for the fact that we seem to have gathered here to watch a radio drama. Reza would object that mis calculated perversity is what makes The Unexpected Man an intriguing theatrical proposition, and certainly, in Michael Gambon and Eileen Atkins, she is lucky to have two actors whose faces are fun of suffering and humour, and hints of a complex hinterland you -could go on reading for ever. The chance to stare at them suettdy staring is, to be sure, abundantly on offer here. Set in a train compartment between Paris and Frankfurt, the play arranges a chance encounter between a soipiee middle-class lady, melancholy because of the death of a much-loved male friend, and her idoL a successful nude novelist variously aggrieved by a chum's recent slighting of his latest work, his daughters If the mark of a great dramatist was the ability to dream up natty, piquant ideas for plays that can then be consumed, with no lasting danger to die system, in the 90-minute gap between one's first gin and tonic and dinner, then the French playwright Yasmina Reza would unquestionably be the new.jShakespeare.

The runaway worldwide success of Art demonstrates the depressing commercial attractiveness of the work that titillates an audience's intelligence, while making few demands on it, that offers an actors' equivalent of the Three Tenors" conceit and that is cleverly agnostic enough to confirm you in whatever prejudice you arrived with. Keza's The Unexpected Man receives its English premier now in an RSC pro-duction at The Pit that reunites the cre-ative team behind the Wfcst End triumph of Art. Mark Thompson once again provides the chicly mimmaust set, Matthew Warchus the droUy stylish and poetic direction and Christopher Hampton the adroit translation. It would be nice to be able to say that, unlike its predeces Face of suffering and humour; Michael Gambon and Eileen Atkins CLASSIFIED Public Notices Public Notices Public Notices Legal Notices International Artists Against Racism Defend the Worldwide 99 Right to Asylum tsmaqgietr UUUTY HOLUNOSWORTN COHN noouvi VANUM RSDOKAVS INSOLVENCY ACT 19W C3MIO LIMITED NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 98 of the Insolvency Act 1986 that a Meeting at Creditor of the above named Company will be held at The Loddon Room, Bridewell Home, 6 Gieyfrian Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 LIG on Wednesday 22 April 1998 at lJOpm for the purpoaei mentioned Sections 99 to 101 of the mid Act A list of the names and addresses of the Company's Creditors may be inspected free of charge between 1000am and 5.00pm at Coopers A Lybrand, Bridewell House, 6 Gieyfrian Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1JG on the two hiiiiwaj days preceding the date of the Meeting. Creditors wishing to vote at the meeting most (unless ftiafaj dm Cm uttfmtmtUmHm ai Cwwm MIMT SMITH BmomUmm Undor, UNtCIOF-UK Notice of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Unitholders of The Thailand Fund To Unitholders of The Thailand Fund As requested by unitholders of not less than twenty per cent (20) in number of the Units, this notice is hereby given by the Manager and the Custodian of The Thailand Fund that an Extraordinary Meeting of the Unitholders shall be held on May 4th, 1998, at 10am at the office of The Mutual Fund Public Company Limited, 32nd Fir, Lake Rajada Building, No.

193-195 Ratchadaphisek Road, Khlong-Toey, Bangkok, Thailand. The agenda Is as follows: 1. Consideration of the appointment of International Limited as the Investment Adviser to replace Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. who has terminated Seconded Staff Agreen Reflect from Arjril 1st 2. Consideration of the amendments to the Investment Contract in connection with the Investment Advisory Council.

3. Consideration of the introduction of placement fee of 3 on top of NAV to be paid to financial institutions who can find investors to subscribe the Units of The Thailand fund. 4. Other business (if any). Announced on April 17th, 1998 The Mutual Fund Public Company Limited, Bor.MorJor21 1 (Manager) Krung Thai.

Bank Public Company Limited, Bor.Mor.Jor 335 (Custodian) MEETING Sunday 26th April, 3.00pm Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, London W6 (nmar Hammersmith Broadway) JNNOVBtCEUD (ajeaMeradtoJBMtoml NO. M7H7I) NOTICE hereby pftjan. pursuent to the pravajtana or aeeaon 178 of 1m CompaniM they are mdlvidual creditors attending in person) ensure men projuei are received at Coopers A Lybrand, 9 Greyfriars Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 LIG no later than midday on the business Ml 1MB, (DM TCT)i CHILDREN ON DIALYSIS need holidays, so do their famies. Before planning your own hoKdays this year, please spare more than a thought for those children who without your help wifl never get away at all. Donations urgently needed by hwKMsroo Udf Aha OornponO hae approved by apooae by apaoai I General rjieoenD a im meeenn a payment out of capeo) far via day preceding the date of the punjooe or nivneora omi OmSmy Braaae i 1 each.

The poymont for the efwioc" In Trie Brain raney raoent Asaocwnon It 46,46440. Tno Dated April 15th 1998. By Order of the Board. A. R.

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