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Theatre Review: Complicit at the Old Vic


Previews for Complicit a new play by Joe Sutton began on the 7th January at the Old Vic.

Directed by Kevin Spacey and starring Richard Dreyfuss, David Suchet and Elizabeth McGovern the play covers the journey of a journalist (Dreyfuss) as he appears before a supreme court with a choice of naming a source or prison. Suchet plays the protagonists attorney, whilst McGovern the loyal wife. If you have seen the film 'rendition' then the topic will cover familiar territory.

The setting of the Old Vic allows an intimate and personal environment, and the choice of performing the play 'in the round' allows the audience to feel as though they are eavesdropping on private conversations.

The story unfolds gradually and concentrates on conversations between the characters during pre and post hearings. Video of interviews and news reports allows the audience to glimpse how the story is unfolding outside of the closeted environment of the play.

Spacey appeared before the play began and underlined this was the first chance the actors had to perform the play together. He asked for our patience in the event of technical problems. In the end no apparent technical issues occured.

The performances were all fine, Drefuss with his trademark stuttering and repition of words at the start of each sentence. Suchet captured the body language of his American character perfectly and McGovern, perhaps slightly underused, was perfectly cast as the rock to the Dreyfuss erratic wave.

I felt I was missing out by watching them on the first night, the rhythm of the dialogue was slightly disjointed and you felt with repeat shows they would be able to 'knock your socks off'. Suchets voice carried to the back of the auditorium whilst McGovern and Dreyfuss with more understated performances were at times difficult to hear.

The dialogue itself was slightly repetitive, the audience seemed to catch the occasional in joke and although lightening the heavy mood, perhaps this attempt at audience engagement was misjudged as it prevented the tension building to a crescendo.

I'll leave the individual audience member to decide whether they liked the ending or not. You will either love it and re assess the whole story or like me you will feel the writer struggled to find a suitable climatic resolution and opted for cliche.

Despite my feelings on the play, it is expertly directed and performed. If you are in London town before the middle of February pop down to the Old Vic catch a show.

http://www.oldvictheatre.com/