Although it had been over 8 years since I first saw this show, I remembered an awful lot of it, and was quick to notice bits that were different from what I remembered. That started right from the beginning, when “Lila” accompanied the young soldier on stage while he sang “The Old Red Hills of Home”. She didn’t say anything, and I don’t know if it really helped having her there, but the song was great.
The show overall was quite scaled-down from the Broadway production – certainly a much smaller cast, and less in the way of sets. The theatre at the Donmar has a jutted-out stage, with two levels behind, and they used the space very well. But some things were just kind of left out, like the streetcar in “The Picture Show”. It just wasn’t there – they didn’t even really say there were on the streetcar, until it was mentioned later in the trial.
Bertie Carvel was Leo in this production, and he did a wonderful job. I mean, for me, no one is ever really going to live up to Brent Carver, but he was really excellent. Lara Pulver as Lucille took a litle longer to grow on me – mostly the accent, I think. She has a lovely voice.
Gary Milner played Britt Craig, and was much more understated than I was expecting with the part. He also played Governor Slaton, which was a little weird. I liked his Slaton a lot though. The biggest change in the show was a new song for Tom Watson prior to the trial, called “Hammer of Justice”. I wasn’t as confused by his character as I was the first time I saw the show, but that could just be because I’m much more familiar with the material now.
The trial was very well done all around, and I really enjoyed Bertie Carvel in “Come Up to My Office”, although, again, it didn’t quite compare with Brent Carver actually crawling across the table. 🙂 Mark Bonner was very good as Dorsey, and I found the character even more unsympathetic this time around – again, probably from knowing the show better.
Because of the small cast, the same man also played Newt Lee and Jim Conley, which might seem strange, but Shaun Escoffery pulled it off quite well. His Conley was excellent, and “That’s What He Said” was great.
They’ve removed the Judge’s letter from Act Two, and instead there was a scene between the Judge and Dorsey, with the Judge basically giving Dorsey political advice. I’m not quite sure what the point of that was, especially because historically, the real judge did express doubts over Leo’s guilt.
I loved “This is Not Over Yet”, and the development of the relationship between Leo and Lucille. Since I knew what was going to happen this time, I started crying from right about the beginning of “All the Wasted Time”, right through to the end. Leo’s “Sh’ma” was sung to the tune of “Old Red Hills of Home”, and they actually “hung” him – he was lifted up off the ground with the rope around his neck – very effective.
I was really pleased to see another professional production of the show, and even happier to learn they’re releasing a cast recording. It will certainly be worth getting, as the cast overall was very strong. It’s such an amazing show, and an amazing score.
The cast: (in order of appearance)
Young Soldier, Frankie Epps & Guard |
STUART MATTHEW PRICE |
Old Soldier, Judge Roan & Guard |
STEVEN PAGE |
Lucille Frank |
LARA PULVER |
Leo Frank |
BERTIE CARVEL |
Governor Slaton, Britt Craig & Mr Peavy |
GARY MILNER |
Lila & Mary Phagan |
JAYNE WISENER |
Officer Starnes & Tom Watson |
NORMAN BOWMAN |
Minnie McKnight & Angela |
MALINDA PARRIS |
Officer Ivey, Luther Rosser & Guard |
STEPHEN WEBB |
Newt Lee, Jim Conley & Riley |
SHAUN ESCOFFERY |
Mrs Phagan & Sally Slaton |
HELEN ANKER |
Hugh Dorsey |
MARK BONNAR |
Iola Stover |
JOANNA KIRKLAND |
Monteen |
ZOE RAINEY |
Essie |
CELIA MEI RUBIN |