The Bussey Building, Peckham October 5th – 31st. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
Neil Gore’s adaptation of Stephen Lowe’s original play is small in scale, but perfectly formed.
Neil Gore and Jonathan Markwood play all of the characters in the play. This involves hats, pipes and jackets being whipped on and off and is a little confusing at first, but very quickly, the characters are distinctive, familiar, and very well played.
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is about the painters and labourers working on The Cave – the home of Mayor Sweater. The hardships and uncertainties of their work situations and their treatment by the “masters” is laid bare, while the socialist views of Frank Owen are at first mocked and then grudgingly appreciated when the company suddenly cuts the workers’ wages.
Both actors share the role of Mr Hunter and give subtly different performances throughout the play. Gore is Faginesque and hysterical in his apoplexy at the rising costs of Owen’s work, while Markwood is slightly sinister, more of a bible bashing Gollum.
There are some lovely touches to the production – scene titles are displayed around the set evoking the old music halls, and work, folk and pub songs are sung with feeling by the actors and the audience. Gore and Markwood have a fantastic rapport and are unflappably professional when technical hitches occur – ad-libbing one liners and casting knowing looks at the audience.
The writing is top-notch and comic moments mix seamlessly with more serious themes.
Even though Noonan’s original novel was written in 1910, the plight of the workers is still relevant today in our world of minimum wage struggles and zero hour contracts. With the current austerity measures and political climate, this is a timely reminder of the chasm between the rich and those struggling to feed their families. The play is worth seeing for the “Great money trick” scene alone. This is the funniest, simplest and starkest demonstration of how compassionless capitalism can exploit and discard workers – all done with 3 slices of bread and 3 
knives. Perhaps Corbyn could put it on the National Curriculum?
The production is an inspirational triumph – don’t miss it.