Theatre / Reviews
REVIEW: A Very Expensive Poison, Circomedia – ‘A captivating adaptation’
In their latest production, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School present a captivating adaptation of Lucy Prebble’s play, itself based on Luke Harding’s novel,
The narrative delves into the real-life assassination of Alexander Litvinenko, a man deemed ‘too trustworthy to be trusted’ by the corrupt Russian government, and consequently poisoned by a cup of tea in a hotel in London.
A fascinating recount of events is guided by his wife, Marina, as she unveils the grievous tale through a triple plot-line: their ill-fated love-story, the police investigation, and the public inquiry a decade later.
is needed now More than ever
Timelines merge as Prebble tangles and untangles the chain of events, eventually laying out the tragic murder through repeated scenes and verbatim script elements (former British Prime Minister Theresa May and Marina Litvinenko’s ‘actual words’).
The company certainly impresses, with Vladimir Putin (Sol Taibi) as a sleazy showman, striking puppetry and high-energy musical numbers. This is elevated by Millie Richmond’s costume design, dressing the ensemble in glitzy garb while Alexander (Callum Burns) never removes his hospital gown – a reminder of his inevitable fate.
Through direct address, audience participation and meta-theatrical references to both the theatre and audience, our attention is frequently drawn to the art of the show.
Indeed, the unavoidable notion that this is a performance cleverly points to the showmanship of the politicians that the play succeeds in exposing, making a ‘song and dance’ of Russian corruption, phony businessmen and the negligent British government.
This is juxtaposed by the backdrop of A4 documents from which characters emerge – literal sheets of hard evidence that frame the action, ultimately drawing us back to the grave political context of the pompous shenanigans that play out.
The impeccable vocal skill of the company must be noted as they seamlessly transition between Russian and British accents; Russian characters speak in imperfect English and Russian accents when addressing British characters, but then switch to a fluent-sounding British accent when talking between themselves in their native tongue, playing on perceptions of cultural identity.
This enables the actors to disperse into a variety of regional accents, characterising them in more specific, recognisable ways, such as the exaggerated, theatrical Scouse accent of the Kremlin hitman (Joseph Stanley), or the endearing Irish lilt of Marina Litvinenko (Molly Hanly).
The special quality of this play is its ability to combine comedy and darkness. Both the tone and atmosphere are constantly shifting; the bumbling idiocy of the assassinators set alongside Marina’s hypnotising grief.
We are charmed by the smarmy politicians, especially the charismatic Putin, though not enough to be blind to their immorality. Putin’s suit is comically pinned to fit him, a pointed remark about his failures and false appearances.
Together, the ensemble successfully instruct us to look beyond the ‘performance’, and it feels like a prescient moment to unveil Russian fraudulence, as well as the Tory government’s complicity in public crimes and above all, the tragedy of an honest man, caught in the crossfires of corruption.
All photos: Craig Fuller
A Very Expensive Poison is at St Paul’s Church (Circomedia) on February 17-24 at 7.30pm, with additional 2.30pm matinee shows on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets are available at www.circomedia.com.
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