Theatre

A Voyage Round My Father At The Theatre Royal Nottingham Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Katy

On the evening of Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 7.30 pm, I had the pleasure of attending “A Voyage Round My Father” at The Theatre Royal Nottingham.

The stage was adorned with a basic set that, while simple, added depth to the performance creating a country garden feel.  The minimalistic approach allowed the focus to remain on the characters and the unfolding narrative.  However, this simplicity also became a double-edged sword, as the show occasionally felt overly intense, diverting attention from the essence of the story.

Rupert Everett’s portrayal of the eccentric barrister and unnamed father was a highlight of the evening.  His performance was impeccable, capturing the nuances of a complex character.  However, the challenge arose when distinguishing between the character’s blindness and his depiction as an aging gentleman.  The blurred lines between these facets created moments of confusion, leaving the audience to navigate the shifting dynamics.

The story unfolded to create an illusion of an introvert who struggled to find his true self and was often overcome with emotions that he was unable to control (often moving from shouting in rage, to crying to dancing within a split of second), which was then reflected on the family, namely his wife (Eleanor David) who devoted her life to caring for and looking after her husband, even before his tragic accident which left him blind.  I found this element of the story a little hard; it was a reflection the 1920s but also how generations after felt that this was the purpose of having a wife.  This story was further explored by the underlining sense of the women’s role being that to support the husband and raise the children, but you got sense that the middle-class wife (Allegra Marland) wanted to strive for more and achieve more but was pulled back by her husband’s growth into becoming his father and the successful career man he felt he needed to be.

The narrative centred around Jack Bardoe, the son, as he grappled with the pursuit of purpose and career, constantly overshadowed by his formidable father.  The exploration of family psychology unfolded gradually.  The parallels painted a poignant picture of the grown-up son silently judging his father, only to find himself replicating the very traits he once critiqued.  This was the essence of the story and made me think of the saying “you reap what you sow”.
Despite the thematic richness, the show encountered moments of disjointedness (this was mainly in the narrative than the acting but often it felt that there were gaps in the story line which would have pulled scenes together), limiting the emotional connection between characters.  While this approach mirrors the autobiographical nature of the story, it posed a challenge in fully immersing the audience in the intricate web of family relationships which were isolated from one another.  A clearer portrayal of emotions could have bridged the gap between the audience and the characters, offering a more immersive experience.

In conclusion, “A Voyage Round My Father” at The Theatre Royal Nottingham was a compelling exploration of familial dynamics, brought to life by Rupert Everett’s stellar performance.  The simplicity of the set, while effective, occasionally overshadowed the narrative intensity.  The challenge of distinguishing between blindness and aging added complexity, and the occasional disjointedness hindered the emotional connection between characters.  Nonetheless, the production succeeded in weaving a tale that resonates with the universal journey of self-discovery through the lens of family.

Overall, I give this a 3 out of 5 as I think the storyline is poignant for many, and that the historical direction of family dynamics provides a good talking point to show how far many families have come over the past few decades.

Rating: 3/5

For more information, please go see:
Website: trch.co.uk
Facebook: @RoyalNottingham
X: @RoyalNottingham
Instagram: @RoyalNottingham (location pin: Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall)
TikTok: @RoyalNottingham

A Voyage Round My Father

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