Review: WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, @sohoplace
Photo credit: Johan Persson
It is one long night, four people, far too much alcohol, and enough secrets to tear two marriages apart. That is the premise of Edward Albee’s well-known and celebrated play, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. First staged in 1962, the three-act play was very well received, winning the Tony Award for Best Play and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, while its Pulitzer nomination famously ended in controversy when the board declined to award a Drama prize that year. Hence, this new revival starring Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup Is highly anticipated and welcomed.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? takes place over the course of a long night, where middle-aged couple George and Martha invite younger couple Nick and Honey back to their home after just meeting them at a party. What starts as a few drinks quickly turns into something much darker, with alcohol loosening inhibitions, relationship unravelling and long-held secrets becoming exposed. The three acts: Fun and Games, Walpurgisnacht and The Exorcism, take the evening from playful conversations to something considerably more destructive.
Marianne Elliott’s new production at @sohoplace uses the theatre’s in-the-round setup very well. Miriam Buether’s set is one of the first things that stands out as you enter the auditorium. It is a divinely detailed 1960s living room, full of warm oranges and golds that make the space feel surprisingly inviting. The slow rotation throughout the performance is a clever touch, shifting the audience’s view of the characters and allowing the audience to see different parts of the room.
The first act takes its time. There is plenty of conversation and a lot of scene-setting, particularly in the long exchanges between George and Nick, and while this does serve to establish the dynamics between the characters and the gender divide that echoes throughout the play, it occasionally feels like it is taking a little too long to pick up the speed. The tension took some time to rise sharply.
The play, however, really comes alive in the second act, which feels like the strongest of the three acts. The games become increasingly uncomfortable, the relationships begin to crack and the humour becomes darker. This play is often described as a dark comedy, and this is reflected well here. There are some genuinely funny moments in the play, particularly from Billy Crudup, which provide relief from the intensity. By the end of the second act, the production reaches a huge climax, with audiences kept hanging on during the brief pause where they are instructed to stay seated.
The third act does not initially pick up this tension. Yet, the final moments land with a real sense of devastation and fill the room with intensity. It is an ending that leaves you questioning exactly what you witnessed, and feeling for these characters in an unexpected way.
Billy Crudup is the standout. His George feels completely natural and there is a real ease to him, particularly in the comic moments, but underneath that humour is a character you begin to feel sorry for. Crudup manages to make George funny and deeply human, and there are moments where you almost forget you're watching him act at all. He is remarkable here.
Gillian Anderson brings a strong stage presence as Martha, and does certainly command the room, but her delivery feels less natural. Some of her lines, at times, feel forced or argumentative, with an overly confrontational manner. That being said, this demeanour does suits Martha's character well, but sometimes a little more variation or subtlety in the delivery might benefit the character.
Josh Dylan is great as Nick, providing a good contrast to George, while Phoebe Horn is particularly enjoyable as Honey. Honey is a fun character who becomes increasingly drunk, and Horn gets some of the production's more entertaining moments. She portrays this so well, with a pleasant joyful approach, whilst also managing to make the character genuinely sympathetic. The relationship between Nick and Honey may not always feel completely convincing, although perhaps this is the point: as the night progresses, the apparently perfect young couple begin to appear less perfect.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a play that continues to run successfully with different revivals, due to its gradual stripping away of appearances. Beneath the arguments and drinking are questions about marriage, ambition, masculinity, femininity and striving to be successful. The sense of the American Dream is well represented, with the desire for financial security, happy marriages and perfect lives, which is not all as it seems underneath.
There are moments when the production could have pushed the darkness and intensity further. The tension is certainly felt, but some parts could benefit from a greater sense of danger. Nevertheless, when these darker moments are projected, it really does work.
This strong revival of the classic play is made especially effective by the intimacy of @sohoplace. Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup are a compelling central pair, with Crudup in particular giving a standout performance. It is funny, uncomfortable, increasingly dark and, towards the end of the night, surprisingly moving.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Alexandra Tullah
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? plays at @sohoplace until 19 December, with further info here.
