An Oak Tree, National Theatre ***

The Temporary theatre provides the National with pieces that are often experimental and slightly odd. Therefore Tim Crouch's experiment naturally fits in this space. The concept is that Tim performs this play with an actor who has neither read nor seen the play before stepping on the stage. For the last night, Samuel West was this actor who played the Father. This play really helps to show West's talent that he can communicate deep emotions of loss and pain when he is repeating words as he hears them through his headphones. Crouch smoothed the process over as much as he can but you still leave slightly unsatisfied with the performance as a piece of art. Despite this, this concept of the hypnotist as a manipulator and how that relates to both the play and the exercise is fascinating. The play itself could be transformed into a fantastic piece but is diluted too much by the gimmick and classroom exercise feel.