Wyndham Theatre – until 21 September 2019
Review by Elizabeth J Smith
5*****
The Life I Lead is the biographical piece about the life of David Tomlinson, an actor whose name we may not all know but when you see the face you recognise him as Mr Banks, the aloof father from Mary Poppins. The quintessential English gentleman, polite, well spoken, kind, slightly apologetic and a little bumbling.
James Kettle has written an extremely funny and poignant piece. Showing us how David grew up in a home where his father was absent most of the time and unloving when he was. A mother who cared but was a little self obsessed, and for good reason as we find out. David always sought his fathers approval but even as a successful actor appearing in the West End, his father wanted him to change his surname so he wasn’t associated to the family. Little did David know there was a much bigger reason for his fathers wishes. We learn how he survived the war years including getting married to an American mother of two boys and the tragic end to that marriage. How he went on to meet and marry his second wife, who made him a very satisfied chap and the struggles they had with their autistic son at a time when autism wasn’t recognised.
Miles Jupp has an awesome task to entertain the audience for 1 hour 45 minutes alone on stage. He smashes this performance out of the park. He encapsulates the whole man. He looks similar, has a beautiful English accent and mimics David Tomlinson’s mannerisms to a tee. His timing and delivery of both sad and funny lines is impeccable. You feel as if you are sitting opposite the man himself and discussing his life at length.
With a simple set and the interjection of music helps focus the mind on the man and his story.
I left the theatre feeling enriched for meeting the man and wanting to know more. It was like having your favourite bedtime story read to you while being wrapped in a comforter.
A beautifully written and executed play, an extremely satisfying evening.