A chip in the sugar or the day Martin Freeman gave a masterclass in acting

 As usual please be aware of spoilers!

Doing Alan’s monologue was a little intimidating, and also a huge honour that I was being trusted with it.

"To be approved of by Alan, who I don’t know, is something I wish I could have told my mum."

I start today's praise because I can't say it any other way with this very touching quote by Mr. Freeman himself.

 Alan Bennett's talking heads is a masterpiece.

Every single episode is wonderful , and a chip in the sugar is nothing less than a masterclass in acting giving by an actor some people call a national treasure.

If you see this episode, you will know why.

You know I hardly advise you to buy anything, but please try and watch it if you haven't already.

Graham Whittaker, a middle aged man, probably closeted, lives with his Mum in his parental home.

He suffers from a mental health disorder and is on medication.

Life is not good but doable, because Graham takes care of his mother, and keeps the rest of his life a " secret".

On Mr. Freeman's shoulders fell a heavy artistic burden, because the original episode was done by Alan Bennett himself back in the 80s.

But it was not only an honour for Mr. Freeman,  it is also a treat for his audience.

Because Martin Freeman is confident and talented enough to make this work his own.

A new actor together with a different director show a different piece of art, and rightly so.

Mr. Freeman shows how Graham Whittaker works in 2020.

Being a closeted man with mental health issues in the eighties is not the same as today.

It was much more different compared to nowadays, although I get the feeling we going backwards.

But we cannot compare these two performers and their performances, and we shouldn't do it anyway.

Different time!

Different actor!

Familiar issues!

I remember seeing a play called 

" Faith Healer" in Dublin with Ralph Fiennes, Ian McDiarmid and Cherry Jones.

The play was designed in a way, that you only see one of them per act.

You have to be a master of your craft to hold the audience's attention in such a "lonely " way.

There is no dialogue, not much activity and no animated movements.

I believe that only the best could do it.

Ralph Fiennes and the rest of cast most definitely could, and so could Mr. Freeman.

It was impressive in a very special way!

A chip in the sugar is an extremely intimate play, and the audience is actually part of it, because we are the listeners and we are the ones who receive Graham Whittaker's trust.

The bad thing is, we only hear his one sided version of the situation.

But the longer he talks, the more we want to believe him.

Because yes, he is a man with secrets, flaws and an obscure view on things, and in spite of being on medication, there are moments when we are everything but sure that his views are not clouded by the struggle itself.

But there is one thing we never do.

We do not belittle or pity Graham, even he is a complicated paradox, and a prime example for a Mama's boy.

He feels bitter about the constant presence of his mother in his life, yet her slowly but consistent drifting into dementia makes Graham an important and central figure of the household.

Graham like any of us, needs to feel important, and taking care of his mother gives him something to focus on.

If the issue he detests so much, in his case his mother wouldn't be there anymore, he needed all his strength to reflect and revivised the fact that he lives alone, has no one who really cares, and hides his homoerotic magazines in an old suitcase in his room.

A grown man hides his true nature from the world, his mother and himself.

Day after day goes by in the same routine, except from the little distractions in form of an outing with his mother Vera now and then.

Like the good son he is...

The world turns upside down when "Mr. Turnbull" makes a reappearance in Vera's life.

A love interest from way before Graham's time is about to confuse the fragile cohabitation of Vera and Graham.

As much as Frank Turnbull takes action , the more resentful Graham becomes.

Vera blossoms and Graham sinks deeper and deeper into dissatisfaction and conspiracy theories.

Who is watching the house all the time???

We start to worry as well!

But hearing all this is by far not a laughing matter, on the contrary.

As much as we hear about Graham's concern, we feel concerned as well.

Martin Freeman never , not one second gives us a reason to pity his Graham.

We rationally aware of Graham's confused existence, and his weakness to seek life of his own.

But every time he starts talking we are all ears, and take in his words and thoughts.

Every date and outing Vera enjoys with Mr. Turnbull, leaves Graham even more bewildered and the aggressiveness underneath is almost vibrating.

Not only Turnbull has obviously all the answers regarding politics, religion and Graham himself, but he also slowly turns Vera into a mother who sees her son a bit clearer, and tells him exactly what, how and why.

Graham Whittaker is not amused.

It doesn't matter that Vera assures him that she still loves him, it's not worth anything when the same mother advises him to get a life.

A life...

A life full of meaning, a life where Graham needs to stand up for wishes and dreams instead deluding himself into false obligations.

Graham hates himself and his mother.

He hates her for standing in the way of his happiness, a happiness he would be responsible for if Vera wouldn't be there anymore.

Missguided solicitude as a paralysing metaphor.

Graham Whittaker the poster boy for repressed sexuality, needs and dreams.

And even the fact that Turnbull's daughter shows up at Whittaker's doorstep, and brings two relieving news is no turning point, although it brings clarification.

First Turnbull surely is not going to be Graham's new Dad, and his suspicious thoughts about someone watching the house are confirmed.

What sounds like a play in fiver acts with a handful of actors and actresses is a one man show only.

And in this case, it is indeed the Freeman show.

He holds your attention the whole time, you hang on every word he says, and within minutes you build up a relationship with Graham, because you feel almost honoured he is telling you all this.

You have the same clear image of Vera, Frank and the daughter as Graham has,without ever seeing anybody else but Graham Whittaker.

You trust this man, because he trusts you, and you want to listen to him.

Out of obligation?

Out of real interest?

Out of curiosity?

Maybe it is a bit of everything, but what it is for sure is fascination.

The way Mr. Freeman acts is fascinating, and you are always on high alert not to miss a single word and get every piece to the puzzle.

He paints a picture with emotions and responses to his own questions.

He masters the fact that Graham cannot be trusted completely, yet we automatically take his side because we developed feelings for him veryearly on.

Martin Freeman is an experienced, absolutely in the moment actor, and he manages to keep his audience with him in every present moment.

His performance is like I said in the title:

A masterclass in acting!

Subtle, captivating and so very intense.

He gives Graham Whittaker a new voice without ever ridicule him.

Thank you and Bravo!