Review: The Seven Acts Of Mercy – Anders Lustgarten – RSC Stratford.

The 16th Century-born artist Caravaggio definitely had some anger management issues…

And what the violent genius has in common with modern-day, austerity hit Britain is the subject of the latest RSC production in Stratford.

Running parallel story lines, between an tempestuous painter who arrives in Naples in 1606 fleeing Rome after killing a man and a dying Old Labour retired Liverpool docker in threat of eviction though bedroom tax and urban regeneration, is a big ask.

Throw into the equation the writing of activist playwright Anders Lustgarten and the RSC’s direction of Erica Whyman and you have an explosive, visceral mix.

From the opening salvo of four-letter words, Patrick O’Kane’s Caravaggio is in your face, ready to head-butt some home truths about greed, ambition, pride and, yes, anger as well as compassion and love. His performance has the power of a boxer, all sinews straining, priming the knockout punchline.

Contrast that, 400 years later, in rundown Bootle with the inspirational acting of Tom Georgeson as Leon Carragher the disillusioned socialist on his last legs and his last tether to humanity.

The thread that connects them – Caravaggio’s masterpiece The Seven Works of Mercy, his attempt at connecting art with the people and Leon’s legacy of living by principles of Matthew 23:36-37.

Lustgarten’s script is full of expletives and adult themes as he drives home the lack of charity and compassion in early 17th Century Naples and 21st Century Bootle on what he wishes to be “Mercyside”.

Whyman’s direction, and the spared stage of Naples church to Bootle backroom is forceful with the lighting and music providing an atmospheric backdrop.

There’s some great respites from the serious with football analogies (Chelsea are the UKIP equivalent –bitter; Arsenal the Greens – well-meaning!) and a rap that lightens the tension, by lethal but likeable thugs Razor (Patrick Knowles) and Prime (Leon Lopez).

And the young talent of TJ Jones (as Leon’s grandson Mickey) belies his age with power and maturity. But it’s Allison McKenzie, as Lavinia who makes you confront your own values by lamenting her ability to hold on to her own. A truly remarkable and memorable job.

Here is a play and performances which will leave you with plenty to think about even if its only a reaction to the blue-rinsed, tut-tutting in the audience after an anti-Tory austerity line. It made me laugh just when I needed it….

The Seven Acts Of Mercy (2 hours 35 minutes) runs at the Swan Theatre, Stratford until 10 February, 2017. Box Office 01789 403436. Beyond Caravaggio is at the National Gallery, London until 15 January, 2017.

John Murphy.