Harry Clarke at Ambassadors Theatre
Billy Crudup makes his UK theatrical debut by unleashing a torrent of accents and characters in the energetic and entertaining Harry Clarke as it hits the West End after a successful run in New York.
Philip Brugglestein grew up in the Midwestern United States talking with an English accent, a rather timid RP type accent, much to his abusive father’s disdain. Now, as an adult, he moves to Big Apple where he meets Mark. In a panic, an alter ego comes out of him, cockney Londoner Harry Clarke who proceeds to charm Mark and his exceedingly wealthy family. Harry is Philip’s defence mechanism, originally triggered by childhood trauma and now coming out to help deal with new, uncomfortable and even unethical situations.
Crudup (most recently of The Morning Show fame but having also been in a slew of TV shows, movies and Broadway productions) plays all the roles chopping and changing between various English and American slangs. Despite the opening line “I could always do an immaculate English accent”, the quality is a little jarring to the British ear at times. But as a character who has never actually been to England, it feels right it sounds that way.
It’s a challenging script that Crudup handles with energy and magnetism. Every line, even the most plain on paper, is an opportunity seized by the actor to draw the audience in and make them laugh. This is also a testament to the marvellous direction from Leigh Silverman.
The writing itself is great. David Cale’s words are witty and unexpected. There’s depth in the character building as it presents flashbacks of Brugglestein’s childhood, Harry’s origin story. But if there’s anything to criticise, it’s that the narrative appears to just fizzle out. There’s a rather neat, ever-growing tension throughout but then it ends, not with a bang but with a whimper.
This may be exasperated by the size of the show in the size of the venue. Harry Clarke feels like an intimate experience without a set or props and not needing much space to move around in. It may feel more powerful in one of London’s many highly regarded boutique theatres than in a large West End room where the audience is too far removed from Crudup.
But there’s a lot to like here. Harry Clarke is without doubt a funny romp that almost all will enjoy. Billy Crudup shows off some serious acting chops and Silverman has done the perfect job directing.
Jim Compton-Hall
Photo: Carol Rosegg
Harry Clarke is at Ambassadors Theatre from 9th March until 11th May 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.
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