Democracy at the King’s Theatre Edinburgh Review
Democracy
Kings Theatre, Edinburgh
29 September to 1 October 2016
Reviewed by Debbie Douglas
The King’s Theatre in Edinburgh is at the top of Lothian Road and is fairly easily accessed on foot from Princes Street and there is a good bus service which runs that way. There are lots of restaurants and cafes dotted about if you are making an evening of it.
Democracy is a Michael Frayn play which was written in 2003. This production is brought to us by Michael Emans for Rapture Theatre, and comes to Edinburgh following an acclaimed West End run. It is set in West Germany 1969, and is the story of the German chancellor Willy Brandt and his historic victory and his ultimate downfall. The play shows us the political tensions and back-stabbing of the political environment, which is as relevant now as it was then.
Democracy is billed as a thriller but to be honest it never really gets going. The all-male cast of ten try their hardest but there is just something missing. There is a high calibre of actors but they just had too much to do. There are some great one-liners but they are too few and far between. I did like the use of the stopping time with the actors all freezing, it was effective but the play badly needs something else.
The set is drab, as are the costumes, variations of dull suits, which I know sets the scene of the period but it made the characters really difficult to distinguish. Tom Hodgkins does really well as Willy Brandt conveying his bouts of depression admirably but there is no chemistry between him and Neil Caple who plays his devoted personal assistant Gunter Guillaume. I found Neil to be too smug, too slimy, I had no empathy for any or the characters. The play is too long as well – maybe if it had been shorter it could have injected some sense of urgency or tension but there was nothing. I was waiting for the story to start and then it was over! I found my mind drifting and willing it to be the end – not caring what happened to any of the characters.
If you are at a loose end this weekend then do please go along and see this and make your own mind up about this play but I feel this could have been great theatre experience but was an opportunity missed.
Rating: 3/5
Tickets cost from £17.50 to £30.50 (booking fees may apply).
Democracy is at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh until 1 October 2016. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0131 529 6000.
King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9LQ | 0131 529 6000
