Theatrical experience came to a shuddering halt for all of
us in March and it’s a delight to be able to listen – if not see – a new play
especially one that is a call to seize the moment, whenever that may come, as
well as in aid of the theatrical community. Henry Filloux-Bennett’s adaptation
of David Nicholl’s comic novel, is being produced by the Lawrence Batley
Theatre, Huddersfield and all proceeds will be split between Acting For Others,
the Equity Charitable Trust, Equity’s Benevolent Fund and The Theatre
Development Trust, run by the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre.
Everyone with an interest in the survival of theatre through
the Covid crisis should support this initiative but in doing so I can also
guarantee them not only a good laugh but also an endless stream of wry smiles
as our hero, perpetual understudy Stephen, waits in the wings for Life’s big
break.
Nicholl was once a struggling actor himself before he found
his feet as the writer of One Day and Starter for Ten, his characters have
always mixed humility, emotional frailty and hopeless hope. As played by the
limitlessly versatile Russell Tovey, Stephen – Steve – McQueen (no, not that
one), is another character fuelled by unreasoned optimism despite his repeated
failures.
These sudden reversals of fortune just don’t happen. Yes,
they do…
Already 32, Stephen has one failed marriage behind him, with
ex, Alison (super Sarah Hadland) still trying to get him on the right path.
Alison has a career as a recruitment consultant and a new man, banker Colin, who
comes complete with an Edwardian detached in Chiswick. Even daughter Sophie is
moving on at her new private school and, exams approaching, tells her Dad she’d
rather go home after pizza rather than to the zoo; et tu Sophie?!
But Steve’s big break could only be a break away, or even
just a minor illness for the man he is due to understudy. He’s been “cast” as
support for new acting superstar, and World’s 12th Sexiest Man, Josh
Harper (Jake Ferretti) in a west end play called Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know,
about Lord Byron of course which, surely, someone now needs to produce once
things get back to the old normal?
Steve also has a small part, opening the door beyond this
mortal plane at the end of the play but even this proves his lack of acting
instinct as he struggles to summon sufficient portend as Death the Doorman in
rehearsals. Still, he knows the part and hopes he’ll get the chance to take
over for a performance and realize his dream of overnight success…
Meanwhile, Steve is getting on rather well with Josh’s dissatisfied
and sassy wife, Nora (Sheila Atim) – another understudy in waiting. Josh is
faithless, over-confident and yet, still in love with Nora but this doesn’t
stop him having an affair with co-star Maxine (Emily Attak)… underneath it all
he can’t quite believe his luck and Jake Ferretti does well in portraying this
conflicted nature.
All is thereby set up for a journey into probability theory and
who else to guide us than Stephen Fry who acts as a one-man Greek chorus
uttering lines that would have made Douglas Adams smile; “A great deal is
made of the deals we make…”
Radio plays leave so much room for the imagination as we
provide our own art direction as well as lighting but the actors need to perform
more vocally than they’re used to – as with silent film, this means adjusting
the focus. This is an opportunity well seized and clearly, despite the
remoteness of the production, there’s a good chemistry at play and the narrative
is seamless.
Much credit should go to Director Giles Croft as well as the
sound and design team of Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, Annie May Fletcher and
Sophie Galpin.
IThankYou Theatre rating: **** + * for the good cause!
The Understudy is a play for the underdog and it’s also a
play for the undying spirit of the unfeasibly optimistic. It’s also very funny
so click on the link below and enjoy!
The play is being released in two parts: part 1 will be
released on Wednesday 20 May and part 2 will be released on Wednesday 27 May.
You only need one ticket to access both parts of the play. You can watch the
play for up to 1 month following the release dates of part 1 and part 2.
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