Keeler
Charing Cross Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 6th November 2013
Going head to head with Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical Stephen Ward, which opens in the West End next month, Keeler is also about the famous Profumo affair which lead to John 'Jack' Profumo being forced to resign after he lied to Parliament about his relationship with Christine Keeler.
Keeler, a young showgirl, was also involved with a Russian spy during her affair with the Secretary of State. The scandal also lead to the resignation of Harold Macmillan as Prime Minister and the suicide of Stephen Ward who introduced Keeler to Profumo.
Gill Adams' play is based on Christine Keeler's book 'The Truth at Last' so it comes as no surprise that Keeler tells a very one-sided story and attempts to shine Christine Keeler in the most positive light possible. Unfortunately this production fails to create the impact it was clearly setting out to achieve. Sarah Armstrong's portrayal of Christine Keeler feels forced and is a little one dimensional. As the lights went down it was stated that men only associate Christine Keeler with the famous naked chair pose, implying that we were going to discover a different side to the character... but I'm unsure whether we actually did.
Keeler, a young showgirl, was also involved with a Russian spy during her affair with the Secretary of State. The scandal also lead to the resignation of Harold Macmillan as Prime Minister and the suicide of Stephen Ward who introduced Keeler to Profumo.
Gill Adams' play is based on Christine Keeler's book 'The Truth at Last' so it comes as no surprise that Keeler tells a very one-sided story and attempts to shine Christine Keeler in the most positive light possible. Unfortunately this production fails to create the impact it was clearly setting out to achieve. Sarah Armstrong's portrayal of Christine Keeler feels forced and is a little one dimensional. As the lights went down it was stated that men only associate Christine Keeler with the famous naked chair pose, implying that we were going to discover a different side to the character... but I'm unsure whether we actually did.
The design is occasionally arty but overall lacks style and any sort of atmosphere. At times the pace slows and transitions between scenes are somewhat clumsy. Background music tends to sound awkward and doesn't always complement scenes. I enjoyed the second act more than the first, although eventually the court scenes became a little tiresome.
In amongst the madness is a very strong performance from Paul Nicholas (who has starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats) as Stephen Ward. His portrayal is unpredictably intriguing. Nicholas has also directed Keeler but it seems odd that his expertise hasn't rubbed off on other elements of the production.
Despite not being born when the Profumo scandal was dominating the front pages of all the newspapers, it is a subject I have not been able to escape from for the past few months. Many have said that they think it is a strange topic for a play/musical, but if done well I think it could certainly provide an interesting evening at the theatre.
While there always are two sides to every story (as boldly claimed in press material), Keeler is a one-sided play and simply does not deliver the goods; but it has succeeded in filling me with anticipation for the opening of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical.
Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
andrew@westendframe.com
Keeler runs at the Charing Cross Theatre until 14th December 2013.
Click here to book tickets (all top price seats reduced to £17.50).
Photo Credit: Irinia Chira / Elliott Franks
While there always are two sides to every story (as boldly claimed in press material), Keeler is a one-sided play and simply does not deliver the goods; but it has succeeded in filling me with anticipation for the opening of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical.
Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
andrew@westendframe.com
Keeler runs at the Charing Cross Theatre until 14th December 2013.
Click here to book tickets (all top price seats reduced to £17.50).
Photo Credit: Irinia Chira / Elliott Franks
Follow @West_End_Frame
It is probably too late in the day but there is a much better (and musical) story about Christine Keeler - Christine the Musical. Unfortunately it wasn't backed by the money of ALW or the personality of Paul Nicholas but it does tell the story in a much more rounded way. Although it was perfomred in Colchester back in October 2012, it really needs a bigger stage (both literally and figuratively). See www.christinethemusical.com
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