Set in 19th-century Copenhagen, the play – directed by Matthew Dunster – draws on satire and political incorrectness to comment upon the colonisation and exploitation of Africa by Europe and indeed the rest of the world. It has people cackling throughout, quickly catching themselves when they realise that this play has some relevance in our world today.
Price I paid: £20
Where I got the tickets: Todaytix
Tickets range from: £15-£65
Theatre: Bridge Theatre
Dates: 12 Oct 2018 – 6 Jan 2019
Rating: ★★★
Firstly, let me say that I did adore this piece, thought I took back a star for its lack of accessibility — Martin McDonagh truly flexes his dark writing skills once again, giving us a mysterious story about Hans Christian Andersen’s helping hand. The play demands the full use of your imagination and an open mind, and I think that one ought to know that before going and seeing this play.
However, that is not to say that the play isn’t horrifically interesting and entertaining! Jim Broadbent presents Andersen in such a way that we find it hard to picture this man writing our favourite childhood stories — he struts across the stage, depicting the great writer as a twisted buffoon with little empathy and a sick sense of humour. This outrageous performance is put against that of Johnetta Eula’Mae Ackles as Marjory, the strong woman who steals the spotlight throughout. Her performance is multi-faceted and entertaining which opposes the bumbling kiss-up Andersen.
I’m always a little in love with the set design of Anna Fleischle. The marionettes that hang from Andersen’s attic ceiling are many, providing an ever-present feeling of being watched, a pressing feeling that might be subtle, but provides an excellent backdrop to this dark piece.
Broadbent’s narcissistic, idiotic and somewhat-obsessed-with-his-good-friend-Edvard Andersen comes to blows with Charles Dickens in perhaps one of my favourite scenes of the play. Phil Daniels shows Dickens in a way we were never taught about in GCSE English Literature and he’s certainly nothing like Gonzo’s Dickens in A Muppets Christmas Carol however, he had the entire audience in stitches.
A couple of other great performances came from the ‘Red Men‘ Barry and Dirk, two Northerners who’ve inexplicably time-traveled to find Marjory — played by Graeme Hawley and Ryan Pope respectively, these two add to the comedy of the play, even if you don’t understand their characters until halfway through this 90 minute play.
This play is running until January and I implore anyone who has enjoyed McDonagh’s work previously, or is interested in a play that is a bit out there to get down to the Bridge and see it!
For further information and to book tickets visit the Bridge Theatre’s website.
Theatre for Twenty Quid (and less) 