Long Day’s Journey into Night
February 1, 2018. Wyndhams Theatre
Play 2 for 2018 and it’s another classic. This time Eugene O’Neill in what is considered his finest play.
This has serious pedigree — Manville (love her), Irons (effortlessly briliant) and directed by the wonderful Richard Eyre. It has transferred from the Bristol Old Vic. I was told to travel to Bristol for it by another theatre geek. It’s THAT good.
I did very much love this evening BUT dear God… it’s a long play. 3h20 is too long without snacks or a walk around the block. And some poor people had to leave before the end to make their trains. That can’t be right. Paying West End prices and then not being able to see the whole play is not acceptable in 2018. Start earlier — it started at 7.30pm and that could easily have been moved up to 7pm to make it more accessible. Why this isn’t the case here is beyond me — it’s daft.
Anyway back to the play… this intensly personal play is that of the Tyrone family who are falling apart. I read that this is loosely based on O’Neill’s family which is why he wanted this published and performed only after his death. I can see why.
The father, a former matinee idol and now wannabe property investor is a miser and a little too obsessed with saving money on the little things — like light and good doctors. Jeremy Irons made this look easy. He is a joy to watch, his pain at the plight of his family is clear and his inability to change is sad.
The mother, a former beauty, had a difficult birth of her 3rd child when a quack doctor gave her morphine that developed into an addiction that’s 20+ years strong. Lesley Manville is gloriously ghostly as Mary. Her fragility and brittleness are offset by her attempts to come off the drug. She’s volatile and the rest of the family are powerless in the face of her addiction.
The eldest actor son has a reputation for drink, women and irresponsibility. He has suffered watching his mother’s addiction and rebels against his fathers meanness with money. Rory Keenan does a fantasic job combining bluster and anger with vulnerability. Nice, and last time I saw him he was in another Richard Eyre piece at the NT. Small world.
And the younger son, a more independent man. He’s seen the world in the Merchant Navy. He’s also more intellectual with a penchant for Baudelaire, Zola and the like. And he’s gets diagnosed with TB during this day. Matthew Beard shares some of the most moving scenes with Irons as the father opens up to the son after his diagnosis. Beautiful stuff.
4/5 So to sum up. Superb acting. Sad and moving play. But too bloody long, so trim or start earlier.
