This play was part of a double bill of plays about climate change known together as The Contingency Plan.
We only fancied the first part; On The Beach.
The Bush was still above the pub on Shepherd’s Bush Green in those days.
It was well acted and produced, but we both found the first play a bit long, ponderous and not entirely plausible. We didn’t seek to book nor did we regret not having booked the second part.
On the whole the double-bill was reviewed jointly, so our take is only partial:
- Michael Coveney in The Independent liked it and found it pertinent;
- Michael Billington really liked it, inferring that Part Two is better;
- Ian Shuttleworth in the FT also found the second play more exciting and gave the whole four stars;
- Philip Fisher in British Theatre Guide reviewed both plays separately, enjoying the first half of On The Beach far more than the second half – I agree with that.