Theatre Review - The Real Thing

Bel Powley as Annie and Oliver Johnstone as Max. [Manuel Harlan]



The premise of Tom Stoppard’s 1982 play is simple – it’s about love and infidelity. Henry (James McArdle), a successful playwright, leaves his wife Charlotte (Susan Wokoma) to live with another actress, Annie (Bel Powley), only to find himself deceived in turn.

Annie leaves her husband, fellow actor Max (Oliver Johnstone) to be with Henry. We meet both Max and Charlotte in the opening scene. They are performing House of Cards, a play about infidelity written by Henry.

But, of course, being Stoppard, there’s more to it. The Real Thing is also about art and deception. What makes a truly good play (demonstrated with the help of a cricket bat). What’s the “real thing” in love and writing.

Brodie (Jack Ambrose) is a Glaswegian soldier who is imprisoned after burning a memorial wreath during an anti-war protest. Brodie is supported by Annie who persuades Henry to rewrite his risible TV drama. Erudite Henry is horrified but wants to please his new wife.

The Real Thing is beautifully staged by Max Webster – different living rooms (designed by Peter McKintosh) are subtly delineated with a descending light and the careful placement of a white sofa by the dancing “backstage crew”.

Music too plays a part – Henry has to choose his top eight tracks after being invited on Desert Island Discs and realises his taste in pop music may not be considered suitable for a writer of his intellect.

Love, marriage and betrayal are resonant themes and Stoppard’s witty script ensures there’s plenty of laughs in this play of reality and deceit. Inevitably, though, some of his debates are less relevant and, while McArdle and Powley are superb, a couple of characters feel superfluous to the main plot.

Until October 26

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Originally published by Westminster Extra