A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS.
London
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
by Robert Bolt
Haymarket Theatre
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Thu & Sat 3pm
Runs 2hr 45min One interval
TICKETS: 0870 400 0626
Review: Timothy Ramsden 4 January
Large-scale revival of a play with more than one big issue.
Michael Rudman’s is a grand-scale revival of Robert Bolt’s account of the downfall of Tudor statesman Sir Thomas More. Designer Paul Farnsworth creates a high panelled set with double staircase. During More’s time of authority this gleams gold in Nick Richings’ lighting, paling as power passes and he is out of favour for refusing Henry VIII’s authority as head of the Church in England.
Bolt’s title, from a Tudor encomium, refers to More’s multi-faceted personality as a wittily serious man. He’s certainly no Vicar of Bray, kowtowing to the latest line from authority. That’s seen in Richard Rich, More’s follower then betrayer. Gregory Fox-Murphy’s performance is one of several in Michael Rudman’s production that show a strong, if inflexible line. It’s true of Daniel Flynn’s boisterous King and Alison Fiske, lovingly stern as More’s wife.
Paul Scofield, who created the character on stage then screen, gave More a profound wisdom. Martin Shaw is comparatively relaxed, with benign humour; later, the ability to absorb suffering dignifies the character further.
The other major performance is Clive Carter’s political fixer Cromwell. In the 1966 film, Leo McKern’s Cromwell sat in dark corners. In 2005, Carter’s politico machine-man is in the open, confident and suave: he’s a cold opposite to More, an operator without passion or convictions.
Between these stands Tony Bell’s Common Man, the compromiser with principles large and small, talking to his fellows in the audience, making the point we may admire More but few act like him. Bell’s fine with the mix of chatty bar-room camaraderie and doglike subservience, showing discomfort when authority implicates him in its actions, handing him the jury foreman’s hat or the hangman’s mask.
Rudman handles Bolt’s picture of a man of principle and decision confidently as a drama of power rather than a philosophical enquiry into maintaining principle against bad faith. What Matters, says More about his faith, is that “I believe it”. This is a play where there is no other such consistent ‘I’ and if that’s subsumed within the examination of power processes naturally evident to today’s sceptical democracy, this remains a valuable revival.
The Common Man: Tony Bell
Sir Thomas More: Martin Shaw
Richard Rich: Gregory Fox-Murphy
Duke of Norfolk: Paul Shelley
Lady Alice More: Alison Fiske
Lady Margaret More: Sophie Shaw
Cardinal Wolsey: Brian Poyser
Thomas Cromwell: Clive Carter
Signor Chapuys: Clive Kneller
Chapuys’ Attendant: Tim Daish
William Roper: John Sackville
King Henry VIII: Daniel Flynn
Woman: Maev Alexander
Thomas Cranmer: Tim Frances
Director: Michael Rudman
Designer: Paul Farnsworth
Lighting: Nick Richings
Sound: Coin Pink
Composer: Ewan Anderson
2006-01-10 23:41:13