The Silver Tassie

***1/2 One can see why Yates criticised The Silver Tassie for it's lack of a central character and lacklustre narrative, but it's not that bad. Our hero Harry Heegan is more the whinging footballer than war hero, but there is a wonderful tension between him and his girl Jessie. Mrs Foran, who see her husband's return to the front as her renewed freedom, also adds to the sense of a gender divide. Although the music hall-like comedy duo of Simon and Sylvester carry the first act, it is the pyrotechnic of the second (take ear plugs) that stay in one's shell shocked head long after the play has ended. Soldier sing 'why are we here' to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, ridiculing the pomposity of the officer class. During the party back in Blighty, both Heegan's breakdown and heartless female sexuality are reinforced. In the final scene woman dance with puppet soliders, collapsing and limp.