** This review may contain spoilers **
When I went to see High Riser a couple of months back, I read about Gutter Street’s previous work and thought ‘ah man, Feathers would have been great to see too’. Luckily for all of us, they have brought it back!
A big thank you to Gutter Street for inviting me back!
What is it about?
Gutter Street’s ‘Feathers’ is a story about morality, nationalism and propaganda. Whilst set in a dystopian world that seems so distant from our own, there are many similarities to be drawn from it. The idea of conscription and fighting a war that people don’t want to fight isn’t a foreign concept to us as a human race. It has been a dark part of our past, present, and most likely our future.
The story follows two siblings, Kaleb and Cecily (played by Nathan Chatelier and Charlotte Keith), who are fleeing the military draft and heading North to a sanctuary they have heard whispers about. On the night they are due to leave, Officer Haines makes an unexpected visit with mandatory contracts he needs them to sign, pledging their allegiance to the war effort against the ‘Great Threat’. Whilst Cecily manages to begin her journey North, Kaleb’s escape becomes obstructed by Haines. It is at this point in the play where we begin to see conversations asking when does patriotism become ignorance, and when does morality become cowardice?
The dystopian world and the characters within it
Whilst Cecily is only with us for the beginning section of the play, we see her as a bold and defiant voice against an oppressive state. Despite being afraid of the journey ahead, she displays a sense of optimism that is starkly contrasted by her brother’s more realistic outlook. It is ultimately her decision not to sign the contract that brings Officer Haines back to the book shop, trapping Kaleb in unmarked territory.
Haines, portrayed by Matt Howdon, perfectly captures both the innocent mind of someone who believes they are doing what is right, whilst also exerting such ignorance to the orders he is so blindly following. He wholeheartedly believes in the slogan “together we thrive” that drives his resentment for those who abandon their military duties. There is no ‘togetherness’ in desertion. Kaleb, meanwhile, grew up surrounded by literature and evidently thrives from reading books that stimulate his mind. Despite both attending the same school, we have Haines on the opposite side who has not attempted to seek out anything more than what he was told in education provided by the state.
As with any dystopian story, worldbuilding is really important. You need to be able to get your bearings around this universe you know nothing about to understand the story. I really would have loved to see some more of that in the beginning half of the play in replacement for the continuous sibling dialogue. One thing I really loved though is that, despite the serious subject matter, there were quite a few humorous moments that were performed extremely well by this talented cast.
Historical roots and the political conversation
The story may be set in an alternate world, but the contrasts and similarities to our own are very evident. Those who desert the draft are known as ‘feathers’, which is where the title of the play originates from. Anyone who knows their WWI history will know that white feathers are a symbol of cowardice. They were handed out to men by patriotic movements and suffragettes during the First World War to shame them into enlisting (thanks to my history degree for finally being useful).
What I loved about this play is that Leo Flanagan (writer and director) approaches the subject matter in a balanced way. He isn’t making us choose a side, but rather encouraging us to see both arguments and viewpoints. It offers us, as the audience, a different perspective to try and understand the views from a place we may not always think about. It leaves us asking questions about the world we live in and the propaganda and conspiracy theories that surround us.
Final thoughts
Feathers perfectly balances a serious conversation with both humour and heart. It expertly comments on our own failings as a society and makes us reconsider everything we are told. A truly thought-provoking piece of theatre. At the end of the day, both Kaleb and Haines had questions they couldn’t answer about the sides they chose to be on. Haines didn’t know who they were fighting and why, and Kaleb didn’t know what lies ahead up in the North. They were both taking risks and trying to do the right thing from the knowledge they had as individuals.
There is also a yearning to know more about these characters. Did Cecily make it out? Has Kaleb left with enough time to meet up with his group? How is Haines going to navigate the information and doubts that have been planted in his mind? When the lights come back up, you become so invested in the story that you almost feel like you could have done with another half hour just to give you the answers you crave.
Feathers is going to be playing at The Lion and Unicorn Theatre until the 25th September. If you haven’t got your tickets already then all I have to ask is… why not?