One of those Williamson plays I wish he'd try again because the central dramatic situation is so strong: a leftie lawyer has become a top QC and clashes with his legal aid lawyer wife, and they have a son who is an underachiever. The central dramatic situation of the son of a brilliant man struggling to find his way in the world is very touching.
The ethical dilemmas aren't bad - the QC is tempted to represent a Rupert Murdoch type, the wife is tempted to pay a bribe to get an old flame out of trouble.
The treatment is disappointingly non theatrical, for a play involving lawyers. There's an excellent finale where the QC defends the old flame, which is well done and makes you wish Williamson had leaned into that more... more arguments, more legal showmanship. But there's a lot of short scenes for the most part - it's written like a film script.
And the "social issues" talk bits clunk - a thing that would become all too common in Williamson plays in later years eg talks on drug policy, media ownership. I'm not saying they're not worth treating or Williamson's heart isn't in the right place but as written here it has a "cut and paste" quality.
And the wife is far too perfect Kirsten surrogate - irresistible to every man in the play, a perfect mother, socially conscious.
But the core is strong. I wish he'd have another go, less on the nose social commentary, more theatricality, more legal arguments, less scenes.
Anyway it made a tonne of money. It tells a story, I couldn't pick how it was going to end, all that.
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