ABSTRACT
I got back to my own set in time to see Jim Allen's new play. I've respected all his work from The Lump and The Big Flame to The Rank and File. Walt, King of the Dumper was an anecdote from the vernacular tradition, a laugh before a curse at how we get fooled. The writing was sharply convincing and the familiarity of the moves-impressing the barmaid, digging her garden, being cut out by the boss, dumping his trench full again-reminded us of the still barely touched power of that whole submerged world, at once lively and resigned, in which work is mediated and tempered. It was well directed by Jack Gold and particularly well played by Dennis Waterman and Paddy Joyce.
