The Cross and the Switchblade

Published Wednesday 6 June 2007 at 11:40 by Catherine Usher

The opening scene was an ominous indication of what was to come. A choir sang tunelessly and clapped a rhythm-free accompaniment while the country pastor David Wilkerson (David Robinson) worked his magic on the crowd.

It soon became apparent the whooping, clapping and praising the Lord were in earnest.

The stark stage favoured the subsequent fifties New York setting of the play, complete with a vandalised car and lots of scaffolding.

Wilkerson was on a mission to tackle the problem of drugs, violence and street gang, and all he had to arm him was God’s love.

But boy, did he have a lot of that.

From offering street kid Mannie (Tom Rawling) the shoes off his feet to telling prostitute Maria (Katharine Henthorne) she could turn her life around, saccharine goodness oozed from every pore.

The character of hardened street fighter Nicky Cruz was so one-dimensional Robert De Niro would have had trouble doing a convincing job. Michael Taylor did his best to be moody, but was unconvincing as “one of the most feared figures in the city’s underworld”.

On two occasions, both Nicky and Maria spoke directly to the audience in a lumbering attempt at conveying their feelings. The experience was possibly more painful than the switchblade option.

Reminiscent of a sixth-form play with the drama teacher casting himself in the main role, the saving grace of the show was Dan Crow’s Israel, who was believable, relaxed, and above all, provided some much needed humour.

Yet, as pastor David assured Nicky, “You don’t like me much. That’s okay”. Hopefully that sentiment extends as far as the audience.