Confession: I sat down to look at the Patriots on the Almeida, not realising that the central character Boris Berezovsky (Tom Hollander) was primarily based on an actual individual. 🤦🏻 The penny drop second got here when a personality beforehand known as ‘The Child’ was launched as Roman Abramovich (Luke Thallon).
Poster for Patriots, Almeida Theatre July 2022
Peter Morgan’s play follows Berezovsky from his place as an influential oligarch who helps to place Vladimir Putin (Will Eager) in energy to public enemy and exile.
He has a intelligent thoughts, a pointy tongue and isn’t shy of dropping f-bombs. Whereas his major motivation, he tells us, is doing what’s greatest for his nation, his conceitedness says one thing barely completely different. And that conceitedness blinds him or skewers his judgement and results in his downfall.
Tom Hollander performs Berezovsky with wit and swagger; it’s a star efficiency (he received a standing ovation on the finish) however not a stunning efficiency.
Putin is the one different character that has some traction within the play and is expertly performed by Eager. He actually embodies the character presenting an uncanny likeness that’s fairly disconcerting.
Wasted character
It is related for Thallon, he does bear an uncanny resemblance to the person he’s taking part in. Nonetheless, his character feels wasted, with little for Thallon to essentially get his tooth into, notably given the meatier roles he is had lately (Camp Siegfried and After Life).
There are an entire bunch of different characters – mom, instructor, safety guard and so on – which do not actually depart sufficient of a mark on the narrative to really feel warranted.
Amongst them are just a few tertiary feminine characters, which was a bit disappointing – we have had sufficient performs with girls on the periphery.
At its coronary heart is an fascinating exploration of patriotism. Berezovsky and Putin say they’re motivated by doing what’s greatest for Russia however what they consider is greatest could be very completely different and formed by their persona and private achieve.
Laughs and F-bombs
There are laugh-out-loud moments courtesy of Berezovsky’s sharp retorts, insults and infrequently underpinned by a superb dollop of F-bombs. Hollander’s supply of an F-bomb is to be applauded.
However that is additionally a critical, darkish play that feels slowed down in pointless gildings and extraneous element. There’s not sufficient to correctly draw out the element of the principle characters and an excessive amount of of every thing else.
You may’t assist however make comparisons with James Graham’s political performs (This Home and Better of Enemies), which felt punchier.
I am giving Patriots ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Patriots, Almeida Theatre
Written by Peter Morgan
Directed by Rupert Goold
Operating time: 2 hours and 40 minutes, together with an interval (this was throughout preview)
Reserving till 20 August, for extra particulars and tickets, go to the Almeida web site
Just lately reviewed:
The Seagull, Harold Pinter Theatre ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Fellowship, Hampstead Theatre ⭐️⭐️
