Rock ‘n’ Roll
Library Theatre
13 February to 14 March 2009
Rock ‘n’ Roll is the latest, play from Tom Stoppard, writer of Rosencrantz and Guildernstern Are Dead and the screenplay for Shakespeare in Love, amongst many others. Autobiographical and unashamedly intellectual, it freely mixes discussions of communism, theories of consciousness, the Prague Spring and its aftermath, and is held together by a love of rock music. It is by turns engaging and entertaining and never less than enthralling.
Starting in Cambridge in 1968, the play moves between the house of university lecturer, Max Morrow, and the Prague flat of his ex-student, Jan. It moves, in jumps, through the years of the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia and Thatcher’s years in office in the UK. It also tells the story of Max’s family and Jan’s obsession with rock music. The various different threads - including interludes on Sapphic poetry - twine together to produce a story which is ultimately about people rather than theories.
The whole cast deserve praise for subtle and powerful performances. Hilton McRae, as the intense Max, brings a captivating performance to some extremely complex dialogue. Graeme Hawley, as Jan, serves as a nice counterbalance, his child-like love for music undercutting the seriousness of his situation. Cate Hamer is excellent as both Max’s wife, Eleanor, and, later, his daughter Esme, producing two distinctive roles. Emily Taffe also pulls off the double with her performances as the younger Esme and the grand-daughter, Alice.
Judith Croft’s stage design makes good use of the small stage at the Library Theatre, changing location from Cambridge to Prague with ease. The use of songs and album artwork to cover the scene changes and set the date, is very cleverly done, although the abrupt endings to the music does sometimes jar. Chris Honer’s direction is understated and allows the material to shine through, especially when the stage is used to show different scenes at the same time.
This play is not going to be to everyone’s taste. It contains many complicated ideas which require the audience to follow some quite complex dialogue. However, what emerges from this complexity is a cast of very real characters who draw you into their stories and make you care about them. If you are willing to give it the effort it requires, it is a totally rewarding evening of theatre: a play which is not afraid to wear its mind on its sleeve.
- Calum Kerr