Rock ‘N’ Roll

There is always a certain buzz and expectation around when a Tom Stoppard play has been chosen for revival. Then on entering the transformed theatre and seeing it converted into traverse, that expectation is even more heightened. As the play opens with the haunting singing of Brenock O’Connor perched up high a haunting atmosphere of expectation is set.
What then follows slowly loses this exciting tension and becomes a revival that although wonderfully acted fails to bring something powerful or new to this version.

What we are seeing is struggles of Czech born journalist and teacher Jan as he is impelled to leave his studies in Cambridge and his blossoming love to return to a !968 Czechoslovakia that is about to see the Russian tanks move in and a life of persecution to ensue. This move is partially instigated by his clash with his tutor Max a stoic communist and father to the girl he is falling in love with. As the two main protagonists Jacob Fortune-Lloyd and Jan and Nathaniel Parker as Max both have great opportunities for pent up emotion and growth and within the structure of the play, which they achieve well. But it is the sprawling nature of the plot and jumps in time that needed more clarity to aid the audiences understanding. Max also must cope with the news and subsequent death of his wife Eleanor (Nancy Carroll) who has the clearest emotional journey and the best lines. Carroll performance as Eleanor and then 21 years later the daughter Esme is the one that holds the attention and creates the most empathy. However, this is a very strong acting company with good performances from all.

Nina Raine’s direction is sensitive, and it is wonderful to be up close to the action which the decision to go for traverse staging gives, bringing Stoppard’s intellectual and well-crafted language to the fore. In this revival the clever choice of music has both power within the scenes and function as the scene changes are carefully choreographed to add progression of story. The sight and sound of emptying of boxes of smashed records being a strong example.

As always it is wonderful to see Stoppard being performed and marvel in his skill as a playwright but as a play that has something to say for today’s audiences, that is not so clear.