The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

I am a Camera at the Southwark Playhouse

I am a Camera at the Southwark Playhouse | Theatre review
7 September 2012
The editorial unit
Avatar
The editorial unit
7 September 2012

“I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking.”

As Christopher Isherwood, portrayed by Harry Melling in a new production, he observed and recorded the dalliances of his tight-knit group of friends and acquaintances, hoping the sights would develop into literary inspiration. The resulting memoir Goodbye to Berlin published in 1939 was adapted by John Van Druten into the stage play I am a Camera, best known for later inspiring the musical Cabaret.

I am a Camera, now playing for a three-week run at the Southwark Playhouse, features a solid cast of seven, each succinctly portraying the hard life of post-war Berlin while epitomising the extravagance of 1930’s bohemia. The now infamous character of Sally Bowes – played well by Rebecca Humphries in this production – leads the way with alcohol-fuelled binges and high drama.

Melling’s lead performance perfectly encompasses the loquacious upper-class fop reputation of Isherwood with the raw anguish of a man in desperate circumstances.

Unrecognisable from his early turn as Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter films, his performance on stage has huge range. Subtlety handling the nuances of Van Druten’s script, he shows he is well cast as he evolves from an indifferent and poverty-stricken creative to an appalled observer of the increasing persecution of Jews under the growing Nazi regime, becoming explosive in his disgust towards the end of the play. Covered in blood from the riots, he confronts his landlady over her naivety in believing Nazi propaganda, and her dismissive attitude towards him for protecting his Jewish pupil against the violence. Both parts are played exceptionally well by Joanne Howarth and Sophie Dickson respectively.

There is also live musical accompaniment, which perfectly complements the setting and tone of the play. Direction and original composition by pianist Angus MacRae, with further musicians on double bass and clarinet bring to mind a bluesy and illicit speak-easy atmosphere, serving as an effective undercurrent to the characters’ constant consumption of gin, champagne and Prairie Oysters. The stomach-churning recipe for Prairie Oysters (raw eggs and Worcestershire sauce) printed on the back of the programme is also a nice touch.

While the cast excel in this production, the Southwark playhouse is an unusual and quirky theatre. Still under renovation, the stage is under the arches of London Bridge station. Exposed brick work and dark corridors do bring an atmospheric quality to the production but the damp rooms and uncomfortable seating may be a problem for others – there is literally water dripping from the walls. But if the gritty surroundings appeal and you don’t mind compromising on comfort for a couple of hours, I certainly recommend this play for its wonderful cast, without exception.

The editorial unit

I Am A Camera, by John Van Druten, is at Southwark Playhouse from 5th – 22nd September 2012. For further information or to book visit Southwark Playhouse’s website here.

Related Itemsreview

More in Theatre

The Father and the Assassin at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Natallia Pearmain
Read More

Dirty Dancing the Movie in concert at Apollo Theatre

★★★★★
Jim Compton-Hall
Read More

My Fair Lady at the London Coliseum

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

“When you’re presented with different dilemmas in life, you respond accordingly”: Debbie Kurup on The Cher Show

Mae Trumata
Read More

2:22 A Ghost Story at Criterion Theatre

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

The House of Shades at Almeida Theatre

★★★★★
Csilla Tornallyay
Read More

Grease at Dominion Theatre

★★★★★
Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More

House of Ife at Bush Theatre

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More

Banter Jar at Lion & Unicorn Theatre: “An authentic and timely one-woman show”

★★★★★
Jessica Wall
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Albert Adrià reopens Enigma on 7 June as a “fun-dining” restaurant and cocktail bar
    Food & Drinks
  • Paolo Nutini at the 100 Club
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Crimes of the Future: Three new clips from David Cronenberg’s dystopian body horror film
    Cannes
  • The Father and the Assassin at the National Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Plan 75
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • November (Novembre)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Forever Young (Les Amandiers)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • “Ruben is wonderful at picking holes in our behaviour and our egos”: Woody Harrelson, Ruben Östlundand and cast at the Triangle of Sadness press conference
    Cannes Film Festival 2022
  • Summer Scars (Nos Cérémonies)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Holy Spider (Les Nuits de Mashad)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Emergency
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Men
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Triangle of Sadness
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Aftersun
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Paris Memories (Revoir Paris)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

John Saturnall’s Feast by Lawrence Norfolk | Book review
The Killers – Battle Born | Album review