Sticky end for war epic

Salman Rushdie's theory, as expounded in Midnight's Children, has it that infants born at momentous times in a country's history will somehow grow up to be barometers of that nation's fate, a microcosmic representation of the larger world around them.

All eyes here, therefore, are on illegitimate Blitz baby Noel Biledew, born into a humble London home, as he reflects the health of post-War Britain.

Will his social-climbing mother win the day with him? Or does his Red Flagsinging, socialist adoptive father stand any chance?

This is, let us not forget, a play by the now ageing "enfant terrible" of British theatre, Howard Barker, so it was always unlikely to end with the characters holding hands happily on a commune and humming The Internationale.

But Claw, written in 1975, is one of Barker's earlier, less self-indulgent works, and for two of its three acts, it holds us gripped as Biledew - the key is in the name - ruthlessly

pursues his stated aim of bettering himself. He becomes a society pimp, procuring high-class hookers for a Profumoesque politician, before coming to a sticky end.

Until the final act the writing, and indeed Jonathan Loe's welljudged production, are taut and spare, driving forward through the morass of class hang-ups with skill. However, it all disintegrates spectacularly in the last third, and one experiences the familiar Barker-viewing sensation of being bashed around the head with a blunt implement.

A host of fine performances keep things on the straight and narrow as far as is possible.

Imogen Dobbs hits all the right notes as Mrs Biledew, in ecstasies over her son's ability to secure her a daily table for afternoon tea at Fortnum's.

Martin Ritchie looks born to play a red braces-wearing, morally compromised politician, and Tom Bacon conveys just the right measure of unknowable reserve and, somewhat surprisingly, pathos, as the virginal pimp.

But if we adhere to Rushdie's thesis, things have never looked grimmer for Britain.

Until 13 April. Box office 020 8858 9256.

Claw

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