To have an actor of the calibre of RUPERT EVERETT in town is reason enough to go to the theatre, but in a story filled with a sometimes difficult, often challenging relationship between a father and son, a visit to the New Theatre in Cardiff this week should be high on your to-do list.
A VOYAGE ROUND MY FATHER was created before writer John Mortimer delivered his hugely successful courtroom drama Rumpole of the Bailey. The inspiration he takes from his own life with his stubborn, and I think fair to say cantankerous father, who refuses to acknowledge the fact he’s blind.
Rupert is filling the role played in the past by the likes of Alec Guiness, Derek Jacobi and Laurence Olivier, three masterful Knights of the realms, which makes me wonder if Mr Everett is next on the list? He certainly gives an award worthy performance as a man you feel you shouldn’t like but actually find charismatic and utterly charming.
As usual we grabbed some of the audience as they left the theatre at the end of last nights performance. What is really interesting is just how thought provoking this play had been. They each had their own feelings about the Father, played by Rupert Everett, who we also got to chat to at the end of the show……
I came to the opening night a little concerned that memories of my troubled past with my father would come to the surface and cloud my views on this play, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. A Voyage Round My Father explores the delicate relationship between a young man and his father who adored his garden and hated visitors, and whose blindness was never mentioned, and introduces us to world of hilarious eccentrics, bumbling headteachers and exasperated relatives.
But at the heart of the story, and something which built as we made our way through the second act, was the love and respect between a young man and his father.
The tip-toeing John (JACK BARDOE) or ‘Boy’ as he’s referred to, does around his father is clearly something a lot of us relate too, judging by the nodding heads in the auditorium last night. In an effort to please, but more importantly be loved by Dad, he finds himself tolerating more than he should, always finding ways to garner his father’s approval.
Now all that may sound stuffy and serious but this play is far from that. When you have a central character who was clearly a very intelligent man, who could articulate on everything from music hall to the inconvenience of sex, you have a play which is both intriguing and incredibly witty.
There are some great lines in this too, often coming from the lips of an angry, contemptuous man.
In some ways his behaviour is understandable, not forgivable though. Early on in the play we see the tragic accident that causes the father to lose his sight. Although different to how it happened in real life, the outcome is the same. We see him bump into the branch of a tree which subsequently causes him to lose his sight.
It’s hard to imagine the effect it had on the entire family, especially as they never openly acknowledged the fact he was blind. The frustration for everyone clearly messed with the family dynamic.
Which gives us a chance to mention the set, designed by BOB CROWLEY. You can’t actually take your eyes off it, it’s reminiscent of the beloved garden where the father would find solitude in his very dark world.
This is a long old journey we go on which begins in the 1920s, when Father goes blind. From there we follow the father’s rise as a divorce barrister and his hilarious antics in the courtroom. Along the way there is his wife, who is the most patiently caring woman you could meet (ELEANOR DAVID)
The cast in this production are all outstanding and carry us through this complex journey around my Father with such grace and ease. JULIAN WADHAM turns in a great performance as the Headmaster, especially during his ‘sex talk’ which is filled with such great comic innuendo. Apparently, going for a run or cold bath is the key to all unexpected feelings.
You can’t help but smile at the stories told during this emotional story, more than that however, the love and respect between Father and Son is clear to see, and is highly relatable to all of us in some way.
A VOYAGE ROUND MY FATHER is a world class production, produced and told by a world class team and I would recommend you get along to the New Theatre in Cardiff while you can.
The play is here through to Saturday 28th October. Performances are at 7:30pm each evening with a 2:30pm matinee today, Thursday and Saturday. Ticket start at £27 with a variety and prices and concessions available. Full details, and to book yours – HERE.
