As I’ve not done one of these posts for a while, I thought I should make the most of being on a bit of a roll this week… On the face of it the two shows have nothing in common (aside from the fact that they were my last two Thursday evening theatre picks), but if you dig a little deeper there are a few strands that loosely join them.
London Tide is a musical adaptation (I would argue it’s a play with music) of Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens, and The Government Inspector is a new translation of the Nikolai Gogol play. The two writers were active at roughly the same time – though Dickens outlived Gogol by a couple of decades and was publishing new work up until his death – and they both dabbled in political satire at different points in their careers. These two productions interrogate corruption and social injustice in contrasting ways, one playing north of the river and the other south.
London Tide, National Theatre (Lyttelton)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve previously attempted to read Our Mutual Friend, wading my way through a couple of chapters and then quietly giving up. A lesser known Dickens novel, it’s a curious but brave choice to adapt for the stage; Ben Power and PJ Harvey’s London Tide is a dark & mysterious take on this story of obsession & social injustice.
The songs may not be especially memorable, however that isn’t the be-all and end-all – what matters most is that they convey the emotions & inner thoughts of the singer(s), and PJ Harvey’s unconventional melodies help to keep you focused on the character.
It might have been better suited to the Olivier stage (utilising the drum revolve), however Ian Rickson’s direction makes good use of some different levels, and is incredibly engaging. Don’t let the 3h10 running time put you off, as it genuinely doesn’t feel this long – especially with standout performances from Bella Maclean, Ami Tredrea, Tom Mothersdale & Jamael Westman (with a shoutout to Ellie-May Sheridan for her hilarious turn as straight-talking Jenny Wren).
My verdict? An atmospheric reimagining of a lesser known Dickens novel, soundtracked by original music from PJ Harvey.
London Tide runs at the National Theatre (Lyttelton) until 22 June 2024. Tickets are available online or from the box office.
The Government Inspector, Marylebone Theatre
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Corruption and mistaken identities abound in Patrick Myles’ adaptation of The Government Inspector, which stars the likes of Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Dan Skinner, Martha Howe-Douglas & Dan Starkey.
There is plenty to enjoy in this two-hour show, including the mini Ghosts reunion courtesy of two of the stars, and the various references to our present day politicians (from gold wallpaper to blatant cronyism) – even if some of the deliberately OTT names get in the way at times. It takes a little while to get going, but the introduction of Smith-Bynoe as chancer “Foppy” (alongside Daniel Millar as his valet, Fudgil) significantly increases the energy and ups the laugh count following quite a stodgy opening scene.
Given how unremittingly grim the world continues to be, this is proof that one of the best ways to process awfulness is by taking the piss. You’re left in no doubt who is being targeted in this increasingly farcical play, even if it could potentially have gone harder and more cutting in places.
My verdict? An enjoyable satire, led with gusto by Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
The Government Inspector runs at Marylebone Theatre until 15 June 2024. Tickets are available online or from the box office.
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