Theatre Review: The Mistake, Tobacco Factory Theatres

Summary

Rating: ★★★

Running Dates: Tuesday 26th September (touring elsewhere in the UK until 30th October)  

Where to see it: Tobacco Factory Theatres

Duration: 80 minutes

Keywords: Historical, informative, simplistic

The Mistake tells the story of Hiroshima from intertwined perspectives. This piece is written by Michael Mears, having been performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and now touring the UK. The performance stars Mears alongside Riko Nakazono. 

Despite featuring only two cast members, we meet several historical figures throughout the story. Some notable mentions include Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer and President Roosevelt. However, our story focuses on General Paul Tibbets, Leo Szilard and Nomura Shigeko. 

We see the realms of science, warfare and reality become entangled. Shigeko is portrayed by Nakazono whilst Mears portrays all other characters. It can be quite risky to portray multiple characters and keep the audience convinced, however, Mears is a stellar actor and fell naturally into each role. Mears can switch between two characters organically, using only simple costume changes (removing a pair of glasses, for instance) and a change of accent.

In contrast to the commercial productions that I have reviewed which, generally, operate on a higher budget, this production was very simplistic. This performance had been supported by The Lansbury House Trust Fund and relied upon crowdfunding. Therefore, the set design solely comprised a few props which could be reused throughout the performance.

Ultimately, the audience were forced to either use their imagination or accept that household objects were scientific implements in a chain reaction experiment. I felt that this was easier to do at some points than others. Notable mention must be given to the creation of an aeroplane out of a stepladder, a walking stick and a chalkboard.

This performance is shorter than a standard commercial piece, running at 80 minutes without an interval. The performance opens with Mears talking directly to the audience about General Paul Tibbets and the time they had almost crossed paths. We are then transported to the morning of the 6th of August 1942 in Hiroshima, where Nomura Shigeko is getting ready to leave for work.

From the outset, we begin to understand the lives of those being portrayed. It is, surprisingly, easy to follow despite chopping between different characters, countries and timelines. It had clearly taken a lot of work to ensure a seamless flow; Mears and Nakazono moved together and complimented each other well.

For lovers of history or science, this performance is one to watch. The script achieves a balance between a gripping narrative and an informative retelling of the events in Hiroshima. I must add, it was very beneficial to have recently watched Oppenheimer! If you have also watched this movie (who hasn’t?!), The Mistake adds depth to some characters we’ve already met, introduces new faces and adds the unique perspective of a Japanese woman in wartime Hiroshima. 

The show was only here in Bristol for one night, however, it is currently touring the UK! It will be touring for another 5 weeks so there’s plenty of time to find a venue near you!

Standout Quote or Moment: the aeroplane scene!

See If: you recognise any of the historical figures!

Similar Plays: This is a unique piece but check out Michael Mears’ website for more!

Last Impression: A cleverly written and informative piece of theatre!

Written by Chelsea Bartlett