Festival Theatre, Malvern – until 4th November 2023
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
4.5****
A Voyage Round My Father is John Mortimer’s memoir brought to the stage. First performed in 1970, over the years it’s had the biggest names in the business (like Olivier and Jacobi) leading the cast and tonight is no except with another phenomenal talent, the wonderful Rupert Everett, playing the titular character. His transformation as he aged was nothing short of remarkable. To make a character who is at times scheming, grumpy and cynical so likeable shows his abundant talent. The way he handled the script’s tender moments – like telling stories to his grandchildren or when his disability was confronted head on was nothing short of an acting masterclass. But he could also burst forth with joy or anger at a moment’s notice and this turning on a sixpence was also a joy to behold.
Eleanor David, as mother, was the perfect compliment to father, giving us a portrayal full of old fashioned love, kindness and patience. I found her reading very sympathetic and rather fell in love with her to the bargain!
Jack Bardoe, as son, has the most stage time as we see him navigating the choppy waters of his school years, making friends, dealing with girls, having his own opinions and eventually forging out on his own. The professional overlap with his father (both lawyers) gave us some delicate and comical interplay between the two male leads.
Julian Wadham played several roles with distinction and was everything one could hope for in a public schoolmaster – crusty, old fashioned, meaning well whilst imparting dubious advice upon his unsuspecting pupils. Allegra Marland really shone as Elizabeth – especially when standing her ground in the face of some fruity (old fashioned) male attitudes. But, honestly, all the cast were suberb and the play would have been diminished considerably had any of them been missing.
The set and props were deployed intelligently to convey a multitude of scenes and was lit creatively to focus the attention on the acting and push along the drama. The costumes were exquisite, with everyone looking extremely stylish.
Director Richard Eyre gave us a lean, taut production. The dialogue zipped along, giving the heartfelt moments (such as discovering the opposite sex, the realisation that work was not all it was cracked up to be and the sacrifices within marriage and in bringing up a family) more time to breathe and have the impact they deserved. But the most potent moment was surely the ending which was deeply affecting due to a commendably deft, light touch.
The story of interesting lives well lived; most certainly. But more than that, it’s an exploration of navigating the journey of life and those key relationships within it – and that’s what makes it such a fascinating, enjoyable watch as we recognise our own experiences on the stage. That’s not even mentioning the pleasure of all that incredible acting done so well. A crowdpleaser of a show, I have no hesitation in highly recommending it to you.