In 1956, John Osborne's Look Back in Anger, the original kitchen sink drama, dropped a working class bomb on the upper class pretensions of post-war British theatre and, in the process, left its author forever bearing the label 'angry young man'.
A dozen years later, while 1968's The Hotel in Amsterdam may not have had the same impact - and in fact, on the surface, seems like it owes more to the Cowardesque canon that Osborne earlier displaced - it finds its author still resolutely licking open sores of anger and disappointment.
Three couples - rich, film industry friends whose London lives are ruled by a universally loathed "dinosaur film producer", the omnipresent KL - flee to Amsterdam for a weekend's respite. From Friday to Sunday, the play unfolds in the drawing room of their shared hotel suite, where the alcohol and conversation flows freely.
And that's about it. A few minor relationship revelations and some not entirely unexpected news from London aside, not a lot happens in this Dutch Hotel. If only the incessantly discussed KL would show up and create some excitement. If only the characters would indulge their longed-for infidelities. If only they'd go out and buy some drugs - they are in Amsterdam for goodness sake. Anything.
But this is a 'talk play', as a friend describes it, and much of the talk is pure tedium, engaged in by largely unsympathetic toffs. At least one acknowledges that "I suppose we're all what's called spoiled" while two others argue over who really is the most boring man in the world. "Is this boring?" Yes. Which no doubt goes a long way in explaining why the piece is so rarely revived.
And yet, in Robin Lefevre's stylish if static production, there are rewards, the biggest of them coming in the diminutive form of Tom Hollander. Laurie - the class-vaulted but still unfulfilled and anchorless, nearly 40 screenwriter, modelled on Osborne himself, a sort of Jimmy Porter, Mk ii - is a battered and bruised peach of a part, and Hollander sucks every last drop of juice from it with his virtuoso performance.
Dangling a bottle of Cutty Sark, he reels and rails around the stage, mimicking foreigners, telling jokes about nuns and generally bemoaning his lot in life. A bore he may be, but Hollander's Laurie is still the life and soul of the party. His hilariously bitter recollection of a letter from a grasping relative should be preserved in aspic for future generations. Excellent.
The other characters are little more than window dressing to Laurie's main attraction, though it must be said, both Susannah Harker's haughty Margaret and Olivia Williams's wounded Annie look stunning and period perfect with it.
I think most of the reviewers here have got it dead right. It's a good play, but not a great one and yes, there's no getting away from the fact that it is rather dull. And everyone's right about Tom Hollander. The cast is good - but he is excellent. Andrew B - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.130.127.205)
28 Oct 03
This was a mixed evening to say the least. This play by the normally very good John Osborne is as stale as any loaf of bread left out for 2 months. The story is silly, the characters carboard cut outs and the whole point of the play seems to be for Osborne to rant about the world through the character of Laurie, very dull stuff indeed. However this production is well crafted and has some superb actors in its cast. Adrian Bower (of Teachers fame), Olivia Williams and Anthony Calf all turn in very well judged performances. However the night completely belongs to the excellent Tom Hollander. Hollander is perfect as the bitchy, ranting, angered Laurie, he steals the whole play. However I still have to ask the question why did the donmar decide to put on this dull play? - USER: Whatsonstage.com (80.225.204.208)
22 Oct 03
It's what the Donmar do best a top class 'A' cast..the playing of all is a joy and should be seen by all who long to know what fine acting is all about.
The play is not great but you can not take your eyes off them for the whole 2 hours.
It's not sold out so go...it seems unfair to pick him out but it is Tom H at his VERY best.
I want to give it 5 but 4.5 will have to do! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.13.129.151)
25 Sep 03
The Hotel In Amsterdam is a strange evening out, I was not bored and it held my attention throughout, but I couldn’t help thinking how quaint or old fashioned some of the jokes were, it seemed resolutely a period piece rather than many plays from post-war onwards which still have great relevance to our society (not to mention pre 1945 drama actually). It was a somewhat flat evening and I was disappointed, even though I thought Tom Hollander’s performance was skilful.
- USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.35.62.168)
24 Sep 03
I'm with the 3.5 person, so I've added their half to mine to give it 4 ! Not a great play, but an interesting period piece with some great lines (albeit not 2003 PC). It's a worthy revival given an excellent production, some good performaces (and a great one from Tom Hollander). It's what the Donmar do so well. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.211.102.3)
23 Sep 03
I wasn't bored at all, and would give it 3 and a half stars if that were possible. I thought there was much more in it than has been suggested. It's not just about Osborne, or Tony Richardson, but about relationships generally - between friends, parents and children, siblings, married couples etc - I found it very touching in parts. And the cast are wonderful - not just Hollander, though he's terrific - I would single out Anthony Calf as well, but they're all good. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.122.32.57)
19 Sep 03
yep, nice to look at but basically boring. hollander is on fine fine form - and raised a few laughs when his character rants about journalists who've written him off for not fulfilling his early promise. a brave move - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.35.62.168)
Re-opened in 1992. Seats 254. 1999 - Ambassador Theatre Group takes over from the Associated Capital Theatres as the landlord of the Donmar Warehouse. 2002 - Michael Grandage succeeds Sam Mendes as Artistic Director of the Donmar. Nick Frankfort succeeds Caro Newling as Executive Producer.
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