Monday, June 24, 2013

The Audience Review

The Audience
NT Live - Gielgud Theatre, London

At first glance Peter Morgan's play is simple. One main set with the occasional change of setting. The premise; the audiences the prime ministers have every Tuesday with our present queen. Of course most of the play is fictitious, but cleverly written into the script are events and facts well known at the time that ground the play in a form of reality. More importantly however, this play is full of both funny and poignant moments that are brought across wonderfully by the actors.

Having played Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 film The Queen, Helen Mirren once again plays the monarch to a tee and much more. At 67 she succeeds in showing the queen at different stages of her life, from her voice to the mannerisms. She is steadfast and shrewd, yet remains informal and compassionate towards her prime ministers.

The play shows glimpses of the challenges the Queen faced during her reign, the saddest being when she has to cope with Princess Diana's divorce and the belief that the monarchy is no longer relevant. At times she talks with the memory of herself during childhood, a stubborn princess who struggles to accept what is expected of her. With these moments, Helen Mirren wonderfully shows how the Queen has become the woman she it today.

The other star performance of the production was Richard McCabe as Harold Wilson, who appears the most during three audiences. Brashly disapproving but soon finding common ground with the Queen, it is clear why Harold Wilson was her favourite. It is therefore sad to see him in his last scene struggling to cope with alzheimers. Together I think he and Helen Mirren deserved the Olivier Awards for their performances.

The rest of the Prime Ministers vary in believability. Paul Ritter is a touching John Major who struggles to see how he could be a successful prime minister. Michael Elwyn too as Anthony Eden is seen wringing his hands over the Suez Canal situation whilst he is waiting to meet the Queen. Nathaniel Parker's Gordon Brown is seen objecting to the problems he is facing whilst trying to deal with his depression.

Edward Fix is not a convincing Winston Churchill, but he touchingly acts like a second father as he tells Elizabeth what to do during the audiences as her first prime minister. Perhaps Haydn Gwynne displays Margaret Thatcher as nothing but cold-hearted, as she speaks about breaking up the unions and verging on the point of lecturing Elizabeth about the value of the Commonwealth. Otherwise I thought Geoffrey Beevers could have sped up his delivery rather enunciate every few words as the Equerry.

On a side note I enjoyed seeing the multiple costumes Helen Mirren has to change into within a matter of seconds. Apparently the costume changes take place onstage, though I could not tell when watching the NT Live broadcast. The short interval film on the costumes however was fascinating to watch. Altogether it is Peter Morgan's witty writing and the acting that make this production a treat to see. Go and see this at a Top Price.

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