Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House – until 6 April 2019
Reviewed by Debra Shaw
5*****
All aboard the SS Italian Castle for the return of award winning writer Tom Stoppard’s Rough Crossing, adapted from a play by Ferenc Molnar. Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, this is a must for fans of Stoppard’s typical word play.
The star cast is led wonderfully by John Partridge (Eastenders, Celebrity Masterchef winner and La Cage Aux Folles). His fellow actors are Charlie Stemp (Hello Dolly!, Half a Sixpence) Issy van Randwyck (Fascinating Aïda) Matthew Cottle (Game On, The Windors) Rob Ostlere (Holby City) and Simon Dutton (The Saint).
Set aboard a magnificent cruise liner headed for New York in the 1930s, Rough Crossing is the story of two playwrights, Sandor Turai (John Partridge) and Alex Gal (Matthew Cottle) rehearsing their play which still needs an ending. Whilst struggling to write the perfect ending, Turai also finds himself trying to stop their composer Adam Adam (Rob Ostlere) taking his leave. Adam is engaged to the leading lady Natasha (Issy van Randwyck) whom has briefly rekindled her affair with the leading man Ivor Fish (Simon Dutton) and Adam is heartbroken. All this is expertly overseen by Dvornichek (Charlie Stemp) as the steward/waiter, renamed Murphy by Gal, who enjoys multiple glasses of cognac, much to Turai’s frustration.
As the play opens against the stunning art deco set, some may find the out of sync conversation (due to the delayed reaction syndrome currently suffered by Adam) between Turai, Adam and Gal a little hard to follow. However, the physical comedy, witty one liners, Issy van Randwyck’s beautiful voice and superb acting more than compensate.