Theater Review: THE AUDIENCE (Drury Lane Theatre)

ENJOYABLE, BUT WHO IS THE AUDIENCE
FOR THE AUDIENCE?

The Audience at Drury Lane Theatre is a slightly stuffy drama best suited for audience members who are very interested in British politics. I fear that might be a rather niche group. The Audience imagines the life of Queen Elizabeth II through the window of her weekly meetings with the Prime Ministers between 1953 and 2015.

Elin Joy Seller

The two-hour play gets off to a rocky start with one of the dryest scenes I’ve ever seen open a show. Playwright Peter Morgan decided, for some unknowable reason, to start us off with dense history and politics, rather than jump into something attention grabbing. I was fearful the entire play was going to be equally stuffy, but thankfully, upon Churchill’s arrival, things begin to liven up. That being said, as a whole, the play certainly maintains a stiff, well, British flavor, er, flavour.

Janet Ulrich Brooks and Company

I think it reflects very well on Jessica Fisch as a director that, though the material is sometimes dull, the pace never drags. Scenes clip right along, so if you are bored by one particular Prime Minister you don’t have to wait long for a change.

Janet Ulrich Brooks and John Judd

I’m no expert on the Royals, though I did thoroughly enjoy Netflix’s The Crown and Spare, Prince Henry’s Memoir, but The Audience strikes me as largely unrealistic. Perhaps, as the director’s note states, the Queen withheld these parts of herself from us in real life, and maybe this is how she really was in her weekly audiences with the Prime Ministers, but her personality seemed inconsistent from scene to scene. I think this was written into the script and is no fault of Janet Ulrich Brooks, who did a remarkable job portraying Her Majesty over sixty years.

Janet Ulrich Brooks, Alex Goodrich, Raymond Fox

I developed a fondness, which Queen Elizabeth seemed to share, for one of the Prime Ministers. Harold Wilson, played by an instantly lovable Ron E. Rains, is refreshingly human compared to the parade of stiff politicians.

Janet Ulrich Brooks and Matt DeCaro

The joy of this play, I think, lies in its positioning of eight prime ministers over sixty-two years juxtaposing one constant ruler. Queen Elizabeth can see clearly when history is repeating itself even when the prime ministers cannot. It was very interesting to think of the people governing countries in this way — how easy it is to overlook history repeating itself when you’re the one shaping it.

Janet Ulrich Brooks, Ron E. Rains

The highlight of Drury Lane’s production is the spectacular costume changes. Brooks is transformed in just a few seconds from an elderly Elizabeth to a young queen still finding her footing. Brooks’ remarkable acting certainly plays a part in these transformations, but the stunning wigs designed by Erin Kennedy Lunsford and costumes designed by Moria Sine Clinton and Ben Argentina Kress help tremendously. These quick changes sometimes even happen right there on stage. It’s a marvelous live theatre trick to watch.

Janet Ulrich Brooks and Susie McMonagle

Though the script is sometimes too stuffy for my taste, and the topic a little outside my area of interest, overall, I did enjoy my time in the theatre, and I would recommend The Audience for fans of British royalty and politics. I would not recommend this play for fans of juicy royals’ gossip and drama. There’s not much of that here.

photos by Brett Beiner

The Audience
Drury Lane Theatre
100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace
Wed at 1:30; Thurs at 1:30 & 7; Fri at 7; Sat at 3 & 8; Sun at 2 & 6
ends on October 20, 2024
for tickets, call 630.530.0111 or visit Drury Lane

for more info on Chicago Theater, visit Theatre in Chicago