Bomber's Moon is the second play from acclaimed Notts-born screenwriter Billy Ivory. Back in 2006 I raved about his first offering, The Retirement of Tom Stevens, and together they are part of the Southwell Trilogy - a series of plays set in Nottinghamshire and exploring the life of Ivory's father. With the critical success of the first play, my expectations were very high and I am pleased to say that Bomber's Moon doesn't disappoint.
David is a character from The Retirement of Tom Stevens, played by the same actor, Tim Dantay, picking up his story a couple of years later. After a breakdown, David has started working in a care home and meets Jimmy, a former World War Two RAF gunner who is nearing the end of his life. Jimmy is straight talking, foul mouthed and cynical. David is awkward and nervous, using phrases straight out of a nurse's training manual in his attempts to connect with Jimmy. They form an unlikely friendship because they are both trying to deal with a traumatic past.
David's tries to put his marriage break-up and the death of his father behind him while Jimmy's motto is 'Never Forget' - deal with the past else it will haunt you. Each of them learns a little from the other's approach. The main theme of the play is faith, both lost and found. Their contrasting attitudes create a tension between them as Jimmy berates David for his conversion to Catholicism whilst appreciating how his faith maintains his tenuous grip on sanity. Like Dr Faustus, Jimmy apparently is determined to reject the chance of salvation that is offered to him.
Paul Greenwood, playing Jimmy, depicts the indignities and frustrations of old age with real skill. Aside from the excellent acting and the superb direction from Matt Aston, this production features a great set with excellent sound and lighting design. In flashback sequences, the room in a nursing home converts cleverly to show Jimmy's turret in a bomber plane. Realistic sound effects help to recreate the atmosphere of terror and movingly depict the courage of the crew.
Although the play sounds like heavy going, there is a thread of dark and coarse humour throughout with many laugh-out-loud moments. In brief, this is another triumph from Billy Ivory and best of all there is still another play in the trilogy to come.
Bomber's Moon runs at The Lakeside Arts Centre until Saturday 22nd May 2010.
Read my review of The Retirement of Tom Stevens here
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