BY JONATHAN STRAUSS

Rough Crossing
By Tom Stoppard
Directed by Lloyd King
New Theatre, Sydney
Thursday to Sunday until December 23
$22/$15, bookings 9873 3575

Since the New Theatre's establishment in 1932, much of Sydney's alternative and radical political theatre has crossed its floorboards. Its latest production, Rough Crossing, is not part of that tradition.

The play's director Lloyd King claims no psychological, political or social complexity for the play. Its purpose is to entertain by means of word play. For example, how many ways do you know how to invite someone to have a drink? Tom Stoppard knows more, and how to weave them into well-timed dialogue.

If the audience response is a guide, Rough Crossing succeeds in its purpose.

The play is about the performers of a new production en route to New York on a ship. They are desperate to complete and rehearse it before they arrive. The comic basis of Rough Crossing is that none of the characters are allowed their pretensions.

Nor is theatre itself: Shakespearean references fly thick and fast, rendered absurd; out of tune singing had the right effect, hopefully intended. Perhaps this play does for musicals what Soap did for TV soap opera. If it is not social commentary, it is at least socially relevant.

The superb set design, by Tom Bannerman, deserves special mention. It generates the right atmosphere from the moment you arrive in the theatre.

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