The President of an Empty Room

National Theatre, London, until 27 August

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

Accompanied by A Cigar is a Good Smoke, a photography exhibition dedicated to Cuban life, by James Spashatt, until 31 August

Rating: ***

"Before Columbus, smoking tobacco was a form of prayer. Now it is an act of rebellion against what you know to be true . . . And if you decide to visit tobacco as a subject, you have to go to Cuba as a setting, because Cuba is itself an act of rebellion against what the world believes to be true."

Steven Knight, playwright of The President of an Empty Room

Miguel Fernando is a senior cigar roller in a Havana factory, with his friend, Simon. A public address system in the factory means that they listen to either music or love poetry to encourage them to be gentle with the tobacco, as they roll the cigars in a factory where company spirits are all important. Miguel is also a former heroin addict. He turns to drugs again when his girlfriend and coworker, Alexandra-daughter of tobacco taster, Don Jose-leaves for America.

Dona Albina, the head of company morale, pays a voodoo witch doctor to watch over Alexandra as she makes the dangerous journey. Voodoo, which means "truth," plays a big part in the production, with spirits conjured by music scaring the workers in the already spooky smoky atmosphere of the factory floor. But the voodoo witch leads to other "truths," to do with sexuality, abortion, extramarital affairs, and parentage, being uncovered. With the factory's owner inexplicably absent, Miguel declares the workplace a democracy and appoints himself president. He then proceeds to alienate his friends by confronting them about their secrets and insecurities, while discovering the painful secrets that Alexandra has left behind and realises with whom she ran away.

The President of an Empty Room's first half touches on many factors of Cuban life; there is a large, overbearing portrait of Fidel Castro in the corner of the room, to which Miguel talks. Alexandra leaves on an illegal boat (you need a special licence to be able to leave Cuba's dictatorship, which stops hordes from leaving the country). The factory workers are surprised when a violinist is found who is happy to play for 10 pesos an hour "for the good of your countrymen," while tips he earns from tourists make him better paid than anyone working at the factory, or elsewhere (tips from tourists top a doctor's $25 to $30 monthly salary, making driving a taxi or being a waiter more profitable occupations). And a strange reverence is paid to the cigars. Miguel manages to alienate his closest friend, Simon, a junior roller, by angrily stamping on a Lusitanian cigar he makes to stop it being burnt as a voodoo offering: "They are only fit for kings and presidents!"

With so much scene setting, the first half ends with the audience feeling lost. The direction of the play is not clear, and although it is enjoyable toe watch, with junior rollers Elena, Maria, and Cristina bursting into song and dance (salsa and flamenco feature greatly), at the interval the point of the play is still a dissatisfying mystery. Yet this ensures that each entertaining character is explored, and makes for many comical moments. Simon, trying to relate to Miguel's loss, tells him that he has also broken up with his girlfriend because he caught her having sex with his father. Miguel, disbelieving he was ever gong out with a girl, questions him, until Simon admits the she was a prostitute that he was stalking: "My infatuation with commercial sex has to stop!"