Photograph: Tristram Kenton
Tim Luscombe certainly takes us into the heart of Europe. His new play, which takes its its name from the French foreign minister's 1950 proposal for a Coal and Steel Community, offers a detailed, intricate look at shifting attitudes to the European dream. And, whatever the dramatic flaws, it is invigorating to hear a public stage being used to debate a crucial issue.
Luscombe's focus is Bill Bretherton: a Suffolk fisherman's son who makes the journey from determined federalist to disillusioned bureaucrat. As a soldier in 1944, under Ted Heath's aegis, he signs up to the idea of a supra-national government. As a civil servant, he sees Attlee rubbishing Monnet's idea of a greater Europe. After that his doubts grow as he sees his admired Heath selling out British fishing and witnesses the corruption of the CAP. Having blown his career in both Whitehall and Brussels, he ends up as a minor official ordering fishermen to destroy their boats. Luscombe is certainly the fishermen's friend; and his play offers a touching account of how local livelihoods are blighted by European rules and giant factory-fishing vessels. At a deeper level, it is a critique of generations of politicians. Post-war Labour is attacked for its parochialism and for failing to grasp Monnet's vision. Thatcher is obliquely abused for her nationalist pettiness. Heath, though he took us into Europe, is assailed for being economical with the truth about his surrender of fishing rights.
All this is fascinating stuff. But Luscombe doesn't engage us sufficiently with his characters. His hero's disenchantment with today's Europe is accurately charted. But Bill has little life beyond his public attitudes: even his abortive love for a drunkenly erratic fellow civil servant feels like romantic tokenism. This is a play where Heath, Monnet and Attlee have more dramatic weight than even the fisherfolk whom the play ardently supports.
But, although the passion goes into political debates rather than human dilemmas, Anthony Clark's production keeps one engaged. Five actors also play a vast variety of roles in a multiplicity of scenes. Simon Robson is especially impressive as a series of heavyweights including the visionary Monnet and the truculent Heath. Sean Baker switches adroitly from a Little Englandish Attlee to a gun-toting Sicilian. And Robert Hands as Bill conveys the disintegration of his private European dream. You can't accuse Luscombe of failing to grapple with big issues. But it would be an even better play if his characters had hearts as well as eloquently expressed ideas.
· Until February 25. Box office: 020-7722 9301.
