Why storm the Bastille or raze the Winter Palace when the simple phrase "I would prefer not to" has the power to challenge the thoughtless status quo.

Filing clerk Bartleby (Glover) is the darkly mysterious office rebel who decides it's not in his interest to continue with the paper-pushing.

The boss who sees his hitherto unquestioned authority challenged now finds Bartleby's revolutionary call to arms spreading to the rest of his staff.

There's flashy wiseguy and shallow romeo Rocky (Piscopo) and slovenly manic depressive Ernie (Maury Chaykin).

Purring in perfect alliteration in the background is sex kittenish anglophile office manager Vivian (Headly). ("Have a chocolate nipple - they're all the rage in Britain.")

For the first time they see how Bartleby's uncompromising refrain has the power to wreak havoc in a world that depends on conformity and compliance.

Director Jonathan Parker has set Melville's Bartleby The Scrivener in a bizarre world of drone-like drudgery decked out in 50s fashion.

Bartleby is a touch too sinister to identify with and comes across as a sort of Clark Kent with serious personality disorders instead of the ability to fly.

Think The Office directed by David Lynch relocated to Terry Gilliam's Brazil and you have some idea of the satirical tone.

It gives the phrase office outing a whole new meaning.

Tim Evans