Post by marion on Jul 17, 2024 18:03:35 GMT
After missing James Corden in One Man Two Guv’nors at the National and kicking myself ever since, FOMO made me book this, his return to the London stage, as soon as they became available. I sort of assumed it would be another big comedy but I was wrong! It is in fact virtually a two hander with Anna Maxwell Martin.
JC plays Alec, a former soldier going through a toxic divorce, with rather a Fathers4Justice vibe about him. AMM plays Monica, his earnest local MP. Alec realises he went to school with Monica and after completing his work installing her security alarms, tries to involve her in his legal battles with his wife. Things go from bad to worse for Alec and, after a set-to with the police security guard, he ends up in a bad way.
Now, especially in the light of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, this could have been very dark indeed but in fact it was in places very funny. Obviously the threat of violence was always present but also Alec was not some unhinged stalker but a man who couldn’t do right for doing wrong and was obviously struggling severely. I thought it covered the subjects it raised (MP safety, toxic relationships, veterans’ struggles, PTSD, toxic policemen) with aplomb. I confess I had completely welled up by the end. It runs straight through for 90minutes. There was one violent bit and the woman behind me screamed! I was nearly out of my seat in shock.
JC and AMM were both extremely good. I have seen her in Macbeth and King Lear and both times she had a tendency to go a bit quiet, but I heard every word from both of them. It got a rapturous reception and a big fat standing O, even I got to my feet! So for quite a modest little production, for me it packed a punch.
Hilariously, this was played in the round so some stalls were at the back of the stage. I was at the end of row P in seat 33 and kept getting up to let people in then having to stand again as they trampled out. Eventually, after being Miss Marple I realised they were all coming looking for seats in the 50s and 60s!!! These were of course stage stalls. Eventually I just started checking tickets and redirecting everyone! The people next to me thought it was hilarious but said I had done a very good job!
JC plays Alec, a former soldier going through a toxic divorce, with rather a Fathers4Justice vibe about him. AMM plays Monica, his earnest local MP. Alec realises he went to school with Monica and after completing his work installing her security alarms, tries to involve her in his legal battles with his wife. Things go from bad to worse for Alec and, after a set-to with the police security guard, he ends up in a bad way.
Now, especially in the light of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, this could have been very dark indeed but in fact it was in places very funny. Obviously the threat of violence was always present but also Alec was not some unhinged stalker but a man who couldn’t do right for doing wrong and was obviously struggling severely. I thought it covered the subjects it raised (MP safety, toxic relationships, veterans’ struggles, PTSD, toxic policemen) with aplomb. I confess I had completely welled up by the end. It runs straight through for 90minutes. There was one violent bit and the woman behind me screamed! I was nearly out of my seat in shock.
JC and AMM were both extremely good. I have seen her in Macbeth and King Lear and both times she had a tendency to go a bit quiet, but I heard every word from both of them. It got a rapturous reception and a big fat standing O, even I got to my feet! So for quite a modest little production, for me it packed a punch.
Hilariously, this was played in the round so some stalls were at the back of the stage. I was at the end of row P in seat 33 and kept getting up to let people in then having to stand again as they trampled out. Eventually, after being Miss Marple I realised they were all coming looking for seats in the 50s and 60s!!! These were of course stage stalls. Eventually I just started checking tickets and redirecting everyone! The people next to me thought it was hilarious but said I had done a very good job!