Review: Zelda at Trafalgar Studios

Zelda
Trafalgar Studios 2
Performance: Wednesday 19th September 2012 (Press Night)

Zelda Sayre is the belle of Alabama, the outrageous good-time girl who captures the heart and imagination of novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald. Their life together is one great party, from the madness of Jazz Age New York to the gin-soaked glamour of the Riviera. Then Zelda takes up writing herself — and more than her marriage begins to crack up.

In my opinion you should always leave a theatre feeling completely different to how you felt when you arrived. Zelda is an intense seventy minutes of theatre and goes by in a flash. The story is interesting, but at some points confusing. If you switch off for just ten seconds you will be left behind. 

Kelly Burke is outstanding as Zelda Fitzgerald. It was incredible to watch her go through each and every human emotion. Sometimes when an actor breaks the fourth wall and looks directly into the audience it can be awkward, especially in such an intimate venue. However Kelly's performance was so intense that there was no awkwardness. I completely forgot about about the other audience members and was focused on Kelly's every move from start to finish. Her attention to detail was sublime.

Kelly Burke as Zelda - Photo credit: Richard Davenport

Trafalgar Studios 2 is a special theatre venue and I wish there were more like it in the West End. The experience of being in such an intimate venue could not be more different to sitting in a larger West End theatre and is something everyone should experience. 

Zelda is a powerful show and is like nothing else you will have ever seen before. 

Visit www.atgtickets.com/trafalgarstudios to find out more and to book tickets.