Mrs Orwell - Tony Cox (Old Red Lion Theatre)

[joem]

An interesting and enjoyable play. A dying George Orwell finally enjoying lterary and financial success plucks up the courage to propose to a much younger woman - Sonia Brownell, a friend he knows who is assistant editor at the literary magazine Horizon - in the hope she can save him with love. But she is in love with someone else and not averse to the attentions of a sleazy, manic Lucian Freud. Meanwhile important business and, as becomes increasingly apparent, literary legacy decisions need to be taken.

The action takes place in the hospital room, and the corridor outside, where Orwell is being treated for tuberculosis. Decent staging.

Good performances all round. Peter Hamilton Dyer is very good as Orwell; instantly recognisable as the dying writer, wide-eyed, clipped accent and cruel wit, torn between groundless hope and despair. Cressida Bonas is his wife-to-be, compassionate but cynical. Sneaky suspicion there were a sprinkling of Sloane Rangers around (if they still exist?) as I am told Cressida Bonas was Prince Harry's girlfriend? Wonder what they made of the Old Red Lion... it's not quite Harvey Nicks.

The play is well-written, tight, tells a story and gives you some food for thought. Crucially, it has Orwell and Freud in it, important figures in 20th century culture. This is crying out for a transfer to a larger fringe venue or somewhere like Trafalgar Studios. Sold out but there may be some returns.

[lynette]

Thanks for this. Just what I like but I've missed booking! Might phone anyway, see what they got.

[showgirl]

Absolutely agree with joem that this would merit a transfer to Trafalgar Studios 2 - or maybe a re-run, which very occasionally happens at the ORL. Saw it at a packed matinee last weekend and noticed some much older people in the audience than usual, many of whom appeared to be first-timers at this venue, which is good. Mind you, one man behind me remarked at the interval "I could write better plays than this."; wish I'd had the nerve to butt in and say "Well go on, then, because that would be worth seeing!"

[showgirl]

Amazed no-one has posted this yet, but great news that this is transferring to Southwark Playhouse from 5 - 23 September inclusive - tickets on sale now. I've never known any production go from the first venue to the other before, but assuming it's in the smaller space, it should fit very well. Had I known, I'd have waited for the transfer as the audience experience at the ORL is dire, so the play has to justify the visit.