The Stage

The American Pilot

Published Friday 13 May 2005 at 11:00 by Peta David

When an American pilot crashes his spy plane into a mountain in a hostile country he ignites a debate among those who rescue him that makes this a highly political and topical drama.

The presence of an American in this remote rural backwater brings out all that is good and evil in mankind. We see how each villager reacts to the situation from the benevolent Farmer, played by Tom Hodgkins, who rescues the American from his field as he might bring back an injured animal and takes him to the scheming trader played by Jonathan Slinger, who is out to make as much as he can.

The American, played to stereotypical perfection by David Rogers, is blissfully unaware that he has landed in the middle of a territorial war in which David Rintoul plays the Captain, complete with sunglasses. Their big plan is to bring more publicity and world attention to their cause so they decide to execute the American and record this event on video camera, which would present some laughable moments were it not so true.

Paul Chahidi is the squeamish translator with some great one liners about Americans and some wonderfully confused translating. His heart belongs to Evie, the Farmer’s stubborn daughter (Sinead Keenan), who is secretly in love with the pilot.

What is memorable about this production is that it brings home the reality of what we know happens in war but dare not say. Its predictable ending does not diminish its intentions as a political drama.