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Theatre listings >
One Helluva Life
- British Premiere.
Playwright - William Luce.
Director - Bryan Forbes.
Producers - Tom Kinninmont, Laurence Myers and Tom Conti.
Lighting Designer - Leonard Tucker.
Choreographer - Bernard Sharpe.
Company - Bialystock and Bloom.
Venue - Kings Theatre, Glasgow www.kings-glasgow.co.uk
0141 240 1111.
297 Bath St .
Dates - Monday 27th January - Saturday 1st February 2003 at 7:30pm
and Sat matinee at 2:30pm.
then tour continues
at Kings Theatre Edinburgh 3 - 8 Feb at 7:30pm .Sat matinee
at 2:30pm. 0131 529 6000 .
New Secure 72 hr email booking + info available at www.eft.co.uk.
Reviewer - Jay Dee.
Highly entertaining & utterly heartbreaking.
John Barrymore was one of the greatest actors of his generation. After
achieving matinee idol status in silent movies he moved into the theatre,
where he became a respected classical actor, particularly renowned for his
Shakespearean performances. He also drank heavily. When we meet him at
the opening of William Luce's lovely play, he is drunk, down on his luck
and attempting to resurrect his once great career by returning to one
of his famous roles - Richard the Third.
Tom Conti gives a wonderful performance as the aging actor, thoroughly
engaging the audience from the moment he steps on stage. His Barrymore
is both highly entertaining and at times utterly heartbreaking. Skillfully
avoiding the pitfalls of playing a character who is constantly drunk,
he never slips into caricature but communicates the warmth and self deprecation
of the man. We are also given glimpses of Barrymore's(and Conti's)
talent as he recalls some of the great Shakespearean speeches, including
an absolutely spellbinding rendition of the 'To Be Or Not To Be Speech'
from Hamlet. Barrymore's sidekick Frank (a prompter who we hear but never
see) is played by Rupert Farley who gives a comic and well judged
performance.
The play itself deserves top billing alongside Conti. One Helluva Life
is a beautifully crafted piece of work, brimming with wit in the vein
of W.C. Fields and comedy and tragedy in equal measure. The author's affection
for his subject shines through without obscuring the more pathetic aspects
of Barrymore's life.
The only duff note in this otherwise excellent production is the set.
There is no designer in the credits and the show may have benefited from
one. The scenery hovers between minimalist / stylised and realistic and
also seemed slightly dwarfed by the height and depth of the Kings' stage.
That aside however, the play is great fun, marvelously acted and well
worth a look.
ŠJay Dee 27 January 2003 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
Cast:
John Barrymore - Tom Conti
Frank - Rupert Farley
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